THE family of John McCarthy were still trying to come to terms with the death of their father when the news came through that their youngest brother was shot dead.
They heard of the shooting on the radio and rang the gardai knowing that John and his family had just moved on to the site beside Fortunestown Lane.
"We buried our father on Friday, I cannot believe this is happening, said his brother, Michael. "Why?" he cried. "John was a quiet man, he minded his family, he looked after them. He wouldn't harm anybody."
John and Michael had married two sisters, Josie and Christina, on the same day 12 years ago. Anne Doran, who was a bridesmaid at the ceremony, recalled "that lovely day" so far removed from the scene in the field in Tallaght where her brother in law lay dead.
"He was a family man. He had nine children, like steps on stairs. May God forgive them for what they have done," she said.
Behind the caravan where his body lay until yesterday afternoon, clothes hanging on the railings reflected the age of his nine children. The eldest, Johnny, is 11 years old, the youngest, Patrick, is just over a year.
Outside a cousin's house in Clondalkin, the children, six boys and three girls, played with neighbours unaware that their father was dead. John's wife, Josie, who was out buying chips at the time of the murder, was being comforted by relatives elsewhere.
"It is tragic for the children. They do not really know what is happening," explained Father Frank Murphy from the travelling people's parish at Cooke Street. "Everybody is in shock, it is just tragic what has happened. But Josie and the children will get tremendous support from the extended family at this time," he said.
Throughout the day, travellers gathered to pay their respects at the McCarthy home and at the caravan site where Mr McCarthy was murdered.
Residents of the nearby estate spoke of a fight between travellers in the area a couple of hours before the shooting. "There was murder on muck hill last night," said one woman, pointing to the end of Fortunestown Lane where the row had broken out. "They drove over one lad and he had to be taken to hospital. But I don't know if it had anything to do with this. These travellers just moved in yesterday."
The travellers who congregated at the scene yesterday didn't believe he was involved. "He never drove a day in his life," said one man. Johnny was a decent man. He wouldn't bother anyone."
The family are originally from Birr, Co Offaly, but have been living in Tallaght for a number of years. Mr McCarthy moved his family from Rathcoole to the site on Sunday to be closer to his mother, Brigid, after the death of his father. Thomas McCarthy (73) had died on Tuesday from heart problems. He was buried in Naas on Friday.