Daughter ‘completely numb’ at killings

THE daughter of an Irishman shot dead in South Africa has said she is “completely numb” at the tragedy which left both her father and his wife dead.

Describing him as a man with a “huge smile” who could always make her laugh, Siobhán McGuirk said all she had been left with was memories of her dad, Kevin McGuirk.

The 53-year-old diving school boss, a father-of-five originally from Dublin, and his South African wife Kim, 34, died on Monday after being shot at their home near Johannesburg. Kim McGuirk’s 75-year-old father, Erwin Franz Poppinger, who was arrested in Alberton, admitted he had shot them with a licensed pistol. He contacted police on Tuesday morning following a row — understood to be about money — at the house on the previous night.

He has since been charged with the double murder.

Writing on her Facebook page, Kevin’s heartbroken daughter thanked family and friends who had comforted her since her father’s death.

“I will never forget his huge smile and how he could always make me laugh or smile when I was crying or upset,” she said.

“Woke up this morning and realised I wasn’t dreaming. It really happened. I guess all I have left is memories.”

Mr McGuirk’s nephew, Jason McGuirk, described the tragedy as the worst news of his life on his Facebook page. He said everyone was in “pure shock” at what had happened.

Jason, who lives in Athy, Co Kildare, described Kevin as a “great uncle”.

“Still cant get over the news today everyone just in pure shock its a crazy world we live in miss ya kev,” he wrote.

It is believed Mr Poppinger waited for his daughter and son-in-law to go to bed on Monday night before entering their bedroom and firing two shots.

The couple’s company, Africa Diving Scuba, operates from their home in Alberton.

On Wednesday, a friend paid tribute to the couple, who married about four years ago. Natalie Claremont, who grew up alongside Kim McGuirk in South Africa, said: “Everyone is in total, complete shock.

“They were such a lovely couple and a really strong part of the diving community. Nobody can believe what has happened, we are stunned.”

It is believed the couple met several years ago through their shared love of scuba diving.