Martin O'Rourke Garda Press Garda Press

AN EFFORT TO raise funds to cover the funeral costs of the 24-year-old shot dead in Dublin’s north inner city last week in a case of mistaken identity has already received substantial donations.

Martin O’Rourke was shot a number of times outside Noctor’s pub on Sheriff Street on Thursday last. The intended target was an associate of the Hutch gang and a suspect in the Regency Hotel shooting.

Though the young man had come to the attention of gardaí in the past, it was for minor offences. He was a drug addict and had no involvement in organised crime.

Speaking in the wake of his killing homelessness campaigner Peter McVerry, who knew Martin, described him as a “harmless, loveable young fellow”.

Christy Burke

Fundraising effort

Former Dublin lord mayor Christy Burke set up a fundraising campaign on Facebook yesterday, and said he had received a “tsunami” of pledges since his initial post.

“I put it up yesterday and when I came out of the pictures yesterday night I couldn’t get over the response,” the councillor told TheJournal.ie. 

Burke said he had spoken to Martin’s family in the wake of his killing. He hopes to put any funds raised over the amount required into a trust for the young man’s three children, he added.

Door-to-door collections to cover the costs of the funeral had also taken place in the Sheriff Street area, Burke said in a Facebook post today.

A number of city groups, including Brother Kevin’s Capuchin Day Centre, had also made contributions, he said. A GoFundMe page will be set up tomorrow, it’s planned.

The funeral is expected to take place later this week in the Dublin 7 area. Details haven’t been confirmed as yet, as the victim’s body hasn’t been released to the family.

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Read: Gardaí appeal to locals not to be afraid to come forward after Sheriff Street shooting>