Mourners hear call for inquiry into Nelson killing

The thousands of mourners at the funeral of the murdered Lurgan solicitor, Ms Rosemary Nelson, heard a call for an independent inquiry into her killing, and an appeal for calm.

Bishop Francis Gerard Brooks of Dromore said Ms Nelson's "cruel murder" had greatly increased fear and tension in the area. Conscious of the previous night's violence in Portadown and the anxieties caused by the killing, he added: "The days ahead will be especially trying for her family and for the people here."

Advocating calm and restraint, Bishop Brooks said: "Resorting to violence would not only be disrespectful to the memory of the deceased, who strove to have established political and legal means for righting grievances, but would also play into the hands of those who intended, by their heinous crime, to destroy the hope of the vast majority of our people, nationalist and unionist, for a permanent peace."

Father Kieran McPartlan, in his homily, said Ms Nelson's murder, which was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, struck at the very heart of the legal and justice process.

"It is absolutely necessary that an independent inquiry be set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the appalling death of Rosemary Nelson," he added. "Those who bear the responsibility for her death must be brought to justice and made accountable for their evil deed. This was a cowardly murder carried out on a young defenceless woman."

The mourning Nelson family, her husband, Paul, and children, Gavin (13), Christopher (11) and Sarah (8), were joined at the funeral Mass by the President, Mrs McAleese, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, and the Minister of State, Mr Eamon O Cuiv.

Gavin and Christopher read the lessons and at the end of the Mass paid personal tributes to their mother.

Sarah brought a bouquet of flowers to the altar during the Offertory procession. The eight-year-old girl had been playing in her school yard, about 100 yards from the Nelson home, when her mother's BMW was ripped apart in the explosion on Monday afternoon.

The Stormont Political Development Minister, Mr Paul Murphy, and numerous Northern politicians also attended, including local SDLP Assembly member, Ms Brid Rodgers, and Sinn Fein Assembly members Ms Bairbre de Brun, Mr John Kelly, Mr Barry McElduff and Mr Francie Molloy.

There were several present from the Northern Ireland legal community, including Judge John Curran, the English civil rights campaigner Mr Michael Mansfield QC, and the solicitor Ms Gareth Peirce. Solicitors' offices closed as a mark of respect and a minute's silence was observed at the Belfast Magistrates' Court, presided over by Judge Tom Lavery, whose daughter, Mary, was murdered by the IRA.

Mr Breandan Mac Cionnaith, of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition, and Mr Gerard Rice, of the Lower Ormeau Road Residents' Group, were among the mourners who helped carry the coffin. Other mourners included the comedian Mr Jeremy Hardy and Ms Roisin McAliskey.

A number of Ms Nelson's highprofile clients attended the funeral, as did relatives of Mr Robert Hamill, the Portadown Catholic kicked to death by a loyalist mob in the town two years ago.

Bishop Brooks said people of both traditions had lost "a tireless worker for human rights". Any violent reaction to her death would only widen and deepen misery and injustice. "Critical attention is needed to maintain momentum in the struggling peace process in our country. All energies should be focused to this end," he added.

"A just and broadly acceptable settlement of our problems and differences may be within our grasp at this very time. Its achievement and delivery must continue to motivate the entire community.

"How tragic it is that the name of Rosemary Nelson, a name associated with the search for justice and equality for all, has now become part of the long litany of names of men, women and children, who have paid so cruelly in our troubles of recent decades."