The family of murdered Ennis student Eoin Ryan says all their hopes for him were destroyed in minutes by the "barbaric actions of another just kilometres from home".
33 year old Barefield farmer Joe Heffernan has started a life sentence today after being convicted of murdering the popular student over two years ago.
Both Eoin Ryan’s brother Daniel and sister Lisa entered the witness box today to deliver the family victim impact statement – following the conviction of 33 year old Joe Heffernan for his murder.
The jury returned a majority verdict after 6 hours of deliberations.
Daniel Ryan described his brother as the cherished baby boy of the family, easy to love, hilariously funny, gentle caring and intelligent who was never happier than when sitting with his nose in a book.
He told the court that every minute of his 21 years was lived with positivity and energy and that it was every family’s nightmare to lose someone they love in such horrendous circumstances and "their world ended on June 7th 2011"
Daniel Ryan said all their hopes for Eoin were "destroyed in minutes by the barbaraic actions of another just kilometres from home" and they battle every day with questions that will never be answered and torment that won’t cease.
He added that they are now a family of four and there is simmply "no punishment sufficent enough to lessen any of the hurt inflicted on them"
