Gardai keep low profile at funeral of suspect

A priest celebrating the funeral Mass for the man gardaí believe killed Donna Cleary in Coolock has criticised the Government for its lack of leadership in tackling the causes of crime.

Dwayne Foster, the man believed by gardaí to have fired shots into a house in Coolock, killing Ms Cleary, died in custody following his arrest.

Addressing his funeral Mass, Fr Declan Brennan also launched a strong attack on the media for its coverage of recent gun violence in Dublin.

He questioned assertions by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell that crime rates were falling. "He must have some sort of magic statistics," he said.

Gardaí kept a low profile at the funeral, with no uniformed gardaí visible around St Oliver Plunkett's Church, Riverwood, south Finglas, yesterday.

One photographer covering the event was confronted by some of the mourners and had his camera taken and smashed.

Wayne Harte, a friend of the dead man, read a prayer at yesterday's service. He was one of the men arrested with Dwayne Foster in relation to Donna Cleary's fatal shooting at Adare Green, Coolock, in the early hours of last Sunday week.

Fr Brennan told mourners that much had been made of victim impact statements. "But Dwayne's mother and father, Edward and Margaret, are victims and so are his brothers and sisters, partner and children. The people of Finglas are also victims.

"We're living in an apparent timebomb in which we are becoming increasingly more aware of disaffected, undisciplined and fearless young men who think they can solve their problems with guns and drugs.

"Religion is all but dead in the country and the leaders are bewildered. There are no role models in Government and the daily rags and mass media would print and say anything to sell newspapers.

"No wonder people feel angry and betrayed. This is the kind of society that produced Wayne and too many others like him."

Fr Brennan told the mourners he hoped God would pardon and forgive Dwayne Foster. We were all sinners. He said Mr Foster was like any typical child but that he was "no angel".

He had been diagnosed with throat cancer aged 17. After a year of treatment he went into remission and as a result had donated money to Conquer Cancer and children's charities. The newspapers would never focus on these activities. "They feel they can twist and turn the facts and use half-truths to boost sales. But there are always two sides to every story."

The dead man's father said the family had been greatly upset at the media's reporting of events relating to his son's death and claims that he was a murderer and drug dealer.

"I can categorically say that he wasn't. He was crucified by the media and hung from the rafters, he was hung, drawn and quartered by the papers."

About 150 mourners at the funeral were led by Dwayne Foster's parents, his partner Celina and the couple's three children Hayley, Abbey and Luke.

Also in attendance were the dead man's brothers Eddie, Darren and Glen, and his sisters Sharon, Cherie, Natasha, Tammy, Jude and Lindsey.

At prayers of the faithful Eddie Foster jnr told mourners he would miss his brother. He would not now get to be best man at his wedding but he would always be his "best man".