The Tuam native shot dead in Dublin on Friday 5 October had bought a house in nearby Corofin and planned to begin a new life in his home county with his wife and young daughters.

Martin Ward from Tuam who was shot dead in Dublin on Friday.

Mr Ward, a 24-year-old car dealer who had lived in Dublin with his wife Jodie and two children for a number of years, was shot dead in Walkinstown in Dublin last Friday evening.

At the time of his death, Mr Ward and his wife were visiting the premises of Brian Downes, to whom he was selling a van. It is believed Mr Downes was the target of a gangland-style assassination.

The heartbroken Ward family have offered a reward for any information leading to the capture of the killer.

Mr Ward's brother Michael told the Galway Independent that the family are "heartbroken", and that his brother's widow is "in bits".

Speaking from Dublin on Monday, where the family had gathered to await the release of the deceased's remains, Mr Ward said his 24-year-old brother had been a clever and mature young man and had worked hard since he was young to build up his car dealership business.

Despite his grief, Mr Ward was adamant that the family is not seeking revenge.

"We don't want revenge, we want justice done, before some other family has to face this. Others already have, like the family of that young plumber killed this year. The Minister must push and give the garda? more men and more power."

He said that the cold-blooded nature of the killing was particularly hard to come to terms with, adding, "if it was a car accident, we'd be able to accept it. But he was murdered for nothing."

Residents of Tuam were shocked and saddened by the killing. The dead man had grown up in Parkmore in the town, and Tuam Mayor Martin Ward, a relative of the deceased, told the Galway Independent that there was "complete shock and numbness within the community". He continued by saying that the gangland scene had become out of control.

Mayor Ward also told the Galway Independent that his cousin had bought a house in Corofin just three weeks ago, intending to return to his roots in Galway.

Mr Ward's parents, Martin 'Ginger' Ward and Nora Ward now live in Athenry, while his 14 brothers and sisters are living in Galway and Dublin. His grandfather, who is currently unwell in hospital, still lives in Tuam.

Mr Ward's body was released to his family yesterday, and it is expected that his funeral will take place in Tuam this evening (Wednesday) and tomorrow.

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