Shatter decries paramilitary trappings

MINISTER FOR Justice Alan Shatter has described as “reprehensible and absolutely unacceptable” the public show of paramilitary strength, including a gun salute, at the funeral of murdered Real IRA member Alan Ryan.

The most serious incident during Saturday’s funeral occurred at Ryan’s home in Donaghmede, north Dublin, where three salute shots were fired before his remains were taken from there for the funeral Mass and burial.

Later, large groups of people dressed in white shirts and black ties were among the hundreds of mourners. A small number then appeared dressed in full paramilitary gear, or “colour guard” combat dress, which included green military-style jumpers and combat trousers along with scarves covering their faces, dark sunglasses and black berets.

The small number wearing that clothing surrounded the coffin as it was taken into the Holy Trinity Church in Donaghmede and also at the burial in Fingal Cemetery in Balgriffin near Darndale.

Hundreds of mourners had earlier walked behind the coffin as it was taken from Ryan’s home at Grange Abbey Drive to the church.

The house where the shots were fired at 9.30am on Saturday has already undergone a forensic examination as part of a criminal investigation into the matter.

“In treating the will of the people, North and South, with contempt, they dishonour democracy,” Mr Shatter said of those behind the show of strength.

“Paramilitary trappings should not blind people to the fact that what is at issue is criminal terrorism carried on by people who, for their own reasons, want to drag the people of this island back to a dark past.”

“I recognise fully the immediate difficulties which face An Garda Síochána when people take advantage of a funeral to behave in this fashion.”

Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Niall Collins TD said ordinary people had been shocked by the scenes at the funeral and he called on Mr Shatter and Taoiseach Enda Kenny to address the issue.

The graveside oration was given by well-known Armagh-based dissident republican Colin Duffy.

While gardaí had put in place a major policing plan for the funeral, the Garda presence at the Ryan family home and church was more low key than at the burial.

Garda sources said it was important to maintain a visible presence at the burial to deter any volley of gunfire and an unruly atmosphere taking hold among such a large crowd, of up to 1,000 mourners.

The sources said gardaí had decided not to move in when shots were fired at Ryan’s home or when the colour guard appeared at the church and cemetery because such an intervention could have led to serious unrest or rioting.

“You had a large crowd, lots of children and onlookers and the risk of going in is that you end up with a really serious riot situation that might very quickly get out of control,” said one source.

Ryan (32) was regarded as a leader of the Real IRA in Dublin and ran an extortion racket to help fund the organisation and also for personal gain.