More than 1,000 people attended the funeral in Belfast today of Robert McCartney (33) who was stabbed to death in the city centre 10 days ago.
He died in hospital last week from stab wounds suffered in a fight outside a pub. The father-of-two had been with friends in the pub on his way to a birthday party when trouble broke out.
A short time later he was found lying in the street fatally wounded. Two friends with him were also injured.
Speaking during the Requiem Mass at St Matthew's parish church in the Short Strand, Father Sean Gilmore condemned the killing saying: "Murder, the taking of a life, has to be the worst action one person can do to another."
Police yesterday said almost 500 lines of inquiry were being followed in their hunt to bring the killers to justice.
A large quantity of CCTV pictures taken in the area around Magennis's Bar in May Street is being examined. Detectives have refused to comment on claims that the tapes from cameras in the bar are missing.
Last week police released four men, including a senior republican, who had been questioned about the murder.