THE FAMILY OF Real IRA member Alan Ryan have released a statement about his death, saying that his murder was a “devastating blow and one from which we will never fully recover”.

The 31-year-old was murdered on Monday 3 September in Clongriffin in a gangland-style attack.

A number of men and women dressed in paramilitary uniforms attended his funeral at the weekend, activity which was condemned by Justice Minister Alan Shatter and others.

Ryan’s family were invited on to the RTÉ programme Prime Time, which will be aired tonight. However, they are unable to appear on the programme and instead released their first public statement to RTÉ.

In their statement, they described their devastation at Ryan’s death and said that there should be an investigation into the depiction of Ryan in the print media while he was alive.

They also said in their statement that they are “deeply upset” by what they alleged was the “inaction” of members of An Garda Síochána at the scene of the shooting.

They said they have made formal complaints to the Garda Commissioner about the conduct on the night, and also to editors of newspapers over images they published.

A spokesperson from the Garda Press Office said the gardaí had no response to make on the statement.

One man was arrested in connection with Ryan’s shooting.

Read: Alan Ryan funeral scenes: “Wholly unacceptable and belongs in the past” – Mayor>

Read: Gardaí say they are investigating shots fired at Alan Ryan funeral>