Hundreds of people have signed books of condolence in memory of apprentice plumber, Anthony Campbell, who was shot dead on Tuesday as he worked in a house in Finglas, Dublin.
The target of the attack was drug dealer Martin "Marlo" Hyland (39), who was shot dead at the same time. It is believed the young plumber was killed to ensure there would be no witnesses.
Mr Campbell's funeral arrangements were confirmed last night. His removal will be held at John's Lane Church, Thomas Street at 6 pm tomorrow with burial after 10 am Mass on Wednesday.
The books of condolence were organised by Mandy Kavanagh, a neighbour of Mr Campbell (20) at St Michan's House flats complex, close to the Four Courts in Dublin's north inner city.
She said the residents had opened the books so that something good would come out of the death. "We will give these to the Minister for Justice. He said on the Late Late Show that he can't tell the judges what to do, but isn't he the Minister?"
Ms Kavanagh said people wanted to see a change in the bail laws so that bail was not granted so freely. "People are coming up with thousands of euros to get bail and we want to know where is all that money coming from? If people cannot prove where their money is coming from, they should be refused bail," she said.
Ms Kavanagh and other neighbours will be standing outside the flats on Greek Street with a book of condolence again today and they expect to close the books tonight. Five books have already been filled.
"It's been great, it has. All sorts of people are stopping to sign the books. We've had doctors, tourists, foreign nationals. People are writing things like 'we didn't know him but God bless him and he should never be forgotten'."
Ms Kavanagh said it was "heartbreaking" to think of the effect of the killing on the young man's family. Mr Campbell was the oldest in a family of four children, the youngest is two years old. "He was a lovely young fella, very quiet in himself but very obliging if you asked him to do anything," she said.
Meanwhile, Fr Peter McVerry, director of the Welcome Home charity, has called for a more extensive witness protection programme to encourage the break-up of gangs. He said a properly resourced programme could cost €2 million per witness when Garda resources, relocation costs and living expenses are taken into account.
This would benefit gang members who wanted to get out of crime but feared the consequences.
"What holds gangs together is the cement of fear so one way of dealing with gangs is to eliminate or reduce that fear", Fr McVerry said.
