No prominent Provisional republican figure attended the removal yesterday of the body of Mr Ronan Mac Lochlainn, the dissident IRA man killed in an armed confrontation with gardai in Co Wicklow last weekend.
However, the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, issued a statement calling on dissident IRA figures - whom he described as "responsible for the circumstances" leading to Mr Mac Lochlainn's death - to reflect on their actions. Mr Mac Lochlainn's body was taken from an undertaker's premises in Finglas, Dublin, to his wife's family home in Ballymun accompanied by a colour guard of six men wearing black berets, white shirts and black ties. The colour party comprised figures from the Dundalk area. About 50 people, most of whom appeared to be friends or relatives, followed Mr Mac Lochlainn's coffin as it was driven along Sillogue Road.
Mr Mac Lochainn's widow, who is understood to be expecting their fourth child, led the cortege, supported by her family. The coffin was draped in a Tricolour. The cortege was closely followed by uniformed and plainclothes gardai and monitored by Special Branch officers. A larger turnout is expected for Mr Mac Lochlainn's funeral in Ballymun today.
In his statement yesterday, Mr Adams said: "I am deeply saddened at the death of Ronan Mac Lochlainn. My heartfelt sympathy is with his family. I support their call for an investigation of his killing.
"I also call upon those responsible for all the circumstances leading up to the killing of Ronan Mac Lochlainn to reflect on their actions. At this crucial moment in Irish history they should act in the greater interests of all the people of Ireland and support the quest for justice and freedom."