Gun victim Keith Conlon and his partner had only welcomed their newborn daughter just six weeks ago.
His girlfriend Janet Delaney gave birth to baby Everleigh in early January, his fourth child.
As he remained on life support last night after being blasted in the head while hunting near Tallaght, South Dublin, on Tuesday, a legal professional was still in Garda custody over the incident.
Relatives of the dad – who is nicknamed Bono – were at his Kiltalown Park home as others helped clear out the driveway yesterday.
His sister Caitiee revealed her pain on social media as she expects the worst. Mr Conlon suffered catastrophic brain injuries. Caitiee wrote: “Love you forever and ever bro, never gonna get over you please mind Ma, Da, Jenty and your four babies.”
In an earlier post, she said: “I love you so much big bro – not able.”
Mr Conlon, 35, was out with two pals hunting rabbits with his lurcher dog on farmland on the Hazel Wood on Tuesday.
It is alleged warning shots were fired at the dog, which was killed in the incident, by another man not known to the group before words were exchanged between him and Mr Conlon.
The Irish Mirror understands he remains on a life support machine but only to facilitate organ donation.
His pals who spoke to us at the scene claimed he had turned away when a shot was fired and he was struck in the back of the head.
The legal professional arrested at the scene, a man in his 50s, remained in Tallaght Garda Station last night.
Gardai have until around lunchtime today to charge him, go to court to extend his detention or release the man with a file going to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A legally held handgun gardai recovered was also continuing to be examined yesterday.
The victim was the father of four children – Jamie, 19, Chloe, 17, Elaigh, six, and six-week-old Everleigh – and was a dog breeder but also had a love for horses.
Mr Conlon, who also used the second name of Greene, is well-known and popular in the Tallaght area. The Dubliner had worked as a deckhand on a sailing boat before he became a dog breeder in the 2000s.
One neighbour told the Irish Mirror that he was “lovely” and a “harmless fella” before adding: “I’m going to miss him.”
And on social media, his friend Daniel Brady wrote: “How can this world be so cruel. Lost for words, heartbroken and shocked is an understatement. I’ll never forget all the thing you did over the years for me and my family, you were always there if we needed any thing, my kids idealised [sic] you, you were like an uncle to them pal.
“We made some great memories pal and will never forget.
“This is not a goodbye pal, as we used to say many moons ago.
“I’ll catch you in the next cartoon.”
While Dawn Kenny said: “I just can’t get me head around it to say Kiltalown has been hit with devastation is an understatement – loads of fun memories Keith.”
A Garda spokesman added: “Gardai are appealing for anyone with information who may have been the Hazel Grove area of Tallaght to come forward.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”
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