Shooting could have been a massacre

A BIRTHDAY banner hung crookedly across the door of the house where a young mother was blasted to death as she celebrated a party with friends.

The remains of a terracotta plant pot lay scattered around outside and gardaí used the fragments to hold down upturned plastic cups covering cartridge cases and other potential pieces of evidence strewn on the road.

The shattered panes of the living room window showed where the gunmen fired, knowing the room behind the glass was crowded with innocent people, obliviously enjoying a party for their friend.