A call for a "searching, independent inquiry" into the death of Mr John Carthy, the Longford man shot dead by gardai at his home last Thursday, was made yesterday by his family.
His sister, Ms Marie Carthy, who is understood to have been close to the scene when her brother was shot as he left his Abbeylara home, made the call in the Longford Arms Hotel.
Reading from a prepared statement, Ms Carthy was flanked by a cousin and a friend at a table in an upstairs room in the hotel.
Reading slowly, she said: "This week has been a tragic one for my family, the Abbeylara community and all of John's friends.
"Those who knew John best know he was intelligent, popular, hard-working, witty, gentle and never let anyone down.
"Like so many people worldwide, John had experienced depression but had come to terms with it and learned how to deal with it.
"I do not wish to blame anyone for what has happened to John but I wish to call for a searching, independent inquiry and would like these results to be made public, so that a tragedy like this will never happen again. "Finally, I would like my family, the Abbeylara community and John's friends to be allowed to grieve our loss. On behalf of my family I would like to thank everyone who gave us support over the last week," Ms Carthy said.
"I do not wish to answer any questions at the moment and I thank you for coming," she concluded.
The family solicitor, Mr Frank Gearty, told the media the family would not at this stage answer any questions and Ms Carthy would not take questions from reporters.
As she finished speaking, Ms Carthy was ushered from the first-floor room in the hotel by her cousin Mr Tomas Walsh, and Mr Martin Shelly, a friend who had been with her at the table where she read the statement, which took less than three minutes.
As she concluded, one of a number of men and women from the neighbourhood, called out "Well done, Marie" and applauded.
Later locals said they were not prepared to let the matter rest until the whole "unvarnished truth" was made public.
They supported the view of Ms Carthy that John was in no way violent and would not have harmed anyone.
Local people believe that when Mr Carthy left his home the security forces had not been expecting him and had over-reacted.