The funeral takes place today of Tallaght woman Mrs Joan Casey who was shot dead at the weekend.
Hundreds gathered at St Dominic's Church in Tallaght, Dublin, last night for the removal of the 64-year-old mother of five who was murdered at her home in the Avonbeg area of Tallaght, on Saturday.
Mrs Casey was a "kindly, loving and peaceful lady" who "served us all through prayer and action", Father Ben Hegarty told the congregation in the church where she had attended daily Mass. "It is very hard to come to terms with the appallingly brutal act that swept away such an inoffensive soul."
Mrs Casey had strong links with the community, Father Hegarty said, and she had lived her life in a quiet area, unaccustomed to violence.
Mrs Casey was shot dead by men who broke into her home at Avonbeg Park in the early hours of Saturday morning. Her husband, Dominic, and her brother were in the house at the time but were not injured. Gardaí believe Mrs Casey was not the intended victim of the attack.
There was a strong Garda presence at St Dominic's Church last night, with two uniformed gardaí and a number of plain clothes officers from Tallaght Garda station.
Two motorcycle gardaí escorted Mrs Casey's hearse to the church. Her husband and two sons, Gerard and Dominic, helped to carry her coffin. Mrs Casey's daughters, Teresa, Martina and Marie also attended the service. The family has requested a private burial today following noon Mass.