Gardai are appealing for witnesses as part of their investigation into the murder of a 45-year-old man in Saggart overnight.
Andy Connors, a convicted burglar and member of the Traveller community, was shot several times after returning home from a function in Co. Kildare.
He died from his wounds in Tallaght hospital just before midnight.
Less than an hour beforehand, a man wearing a balaclava burst into his home at Boherboy in Saggart and shot him several times with a handgun in the upper body.
His wife, four of his children and niece - aged between 6 and 15 - were in the house at the time.
His neighbour Mervyn Ennis knew him well and says he could hear his children's cries shortly after the attack:
"The kids, we could hear them crying last night. Like this is wrong that it's happening in Ireland and we coming up to 1916, to celebrate what?"
A murder investigation is now underway and Superintendent Paul Moran has this appeal:
"Has anyone observed any unusual activity around this area, in the house in particular. The area or the time that, we wish to be quite specific with this, between 10 and 11pm last night."
Gardai are also appealing to members of the local travelling community to come forward.
Mr. Connors attended a function in the town of Monasterevin in Co. Kildare and anyone with information is asked to come forward.
