Mother will be 'forever haunted' by son's murder in 'act of brutality we could never imagine'

Thomas Farnan was was shot dead in front of his partner as he answered a knock at the front door of their ground-floor apartment in Clondalkin, Dublin, on April 25, 2016

Lorcan Merriman, 26, of Lealand Close, Clondalkin, Dublin, had been on trial accused of Thomas Farnan's murder but the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop the murder charge after the accused offered to plead guilty to preventing the apprehension of the murderer by disposing of the gun, which has not been found.

A mother who was on the phone to her son when he was shot dead by a caller to his front door has told the Central Criminal Court the "brutal" murder will haunt her family forever.

Ivona Shortt said her son, Thomas Farnan, 37, was a "big friendly giant" who was loved for his quick wit, kindness and generosity. She said her family cannot understand why he was killed and she called on the courts to serve justice on those responsible for the "despicable crime".