ABOUT 200 mourners attended the removal last night of the remains of Mrs Nonie Gordon from Leonard's funeral home at Ahascragh, Co Galway, to the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Caltra.

Mrs Gordon collapsed and died at Galway Circuit Criminal Court last Tuesday, at the start of the trial of Mr Pat Gillane, who is charged with soliciting two men to murder Mrs Gordon's daughter, Mrs Philomena Gillane, in January 1994.

Father Francis Glennon, the parish priest of Ahascragh, led the prayers.

At the church in Caltra, Mrs Gordon's sons, Martin and Paddy, helped to carry the coffin. Other mourners in attendance included Mrs Gordon's daughters, Bridie and Mary.

Father Glennon said the sad occasion, however distressing for family and friends, was not bereft of hope. He quoted St Luke, who said: "We know not at what hour the burglar comes into the house." Similarly, he told the congregation, we did not know the day or the hour the Lord comes.

The sudden death of Mrs Gordon (76) in court on Tuesday came as she prepared to give evidence in the trial of her son-in-law, Mr Pat Gillane.

Mr Gillane denies soliciting Mr Christopher Bolger and Mr Michael Doyle to murder his wife on a date unknown between January 1st and January 31st, 1994.

During the funeral service, a journalist from The Irish Times was threatened and a freelance photographer was attacked. A second photographer was also threatened. Three men detached themselves from the crowd outside Leonard's Funeral Home and shouted abuse at the press about the manner in which Mrs Gordon's death had been reported.

A garda intervened and formally cautioned the three men.