The father of murdered Kent businessman David O'Leary has spoken of his anguish and his determination to find his son's killer.

Dan O'Leary, 68, said: "I am doing my own investigation. I am known as Desperate Dan the junk man and many people know me and I hope some informer will come forward and tell me something when they won't tell the police."

He refers to the killer who was waiting at his son's home at Valley Road, Lydden, near Margate in the early hours of Saturday, March 1, as an assassin.

Searching for answers to the events that he describes as "devastating", Mr O'Leary said: "As far as I am concerned, a man waiting for you in your home and shooting you twice is an assassin. What other word can you use?

"I wake up crying in middle of night. It never leaves me, not for a second. I can never ever be happy again. But I will carry on.

"My problem is I want to hate someone but I can't because I am not vengeful - I am hoping I can get like that and I can hate someone but it is not me."

He spoke of the last moments of his son's life. He said: "David had been to a club in Margate drinking. He went to another club and then went home.

"There was man inside the house and he shot David in the chest and he shot backwards. The man said to Emma (David O'Leary's partner Emma Terry) to lay on floor, but she ran. There was a second shot which hit David in the neck."

Mr O’Leary treasures fond memories of his son’s childhood including trips to Disney World and Los Angeles.

He added: "Lately he was becoming a success in his business as a scaffolder. Not only did they finish him, they finished all his dreams."

David and Miss Terry had three young children. David's father added: "It is sad when you look at the photos. Emma is having that all the time and the children are asking about their dad and it is very upsetting."

Horses and a carriage have been ordered for the funeral procession from his son's home at Lydden to St Augustine's at Ramsgate for the service on Wednesday, April 9, at 11.45am.

He expects quite a turn out of David's friends, and he described his son as "a friendly and outgoing chap, like me".

Det Ch Insp Maria Shepherd is leading the murder inquiry. She said: "We are taking this very seriously and we have been in constant contact with all members of Mr O'Leary's family to assure them of that and to keep them up to date on the investigation.

"I do not want to go into our lines of inquiry for obvious operational reasons, however, it is fair to say this is a complicated case and a month on from the murder of Mr O’Leary, a full team remains engaged in its investigation."

Anyone with information should contact the Major Crime Incident Room on 01303 289600 or call Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.