A MAN who was shot in a bar in Spain last month was described as “an innocent victim of an incident in which he played no part” at his funeral which took place at St Joseph’s Church in Bonnybrook, north Dublin, yesterday.
Hundreds of mourners packed the church for the funeral of 41-year-old John 0’Neill, who was shot while on holidays with his family in Benalmadena.
In his homily, parish priest Fr Frank Duggan described Mr O’Neill as “a big softie” and a “genial and gentle giant” who had “tragically left this world an innocent victim of an incident in which he played no part.”
Fr Duggan told mourners that for Mr O’Neill, “his family was his pleasure and his leisure.”
The priest said: “John wore his faith not on his knees but on rolled up sleeves.”
Mourners heard that Mr O’Neill was a keen Arsenal fan and a Dublin supporter whose favourite phrase was “up the Dubs.” Fr Duggan said that mourners may ask why John was taken so tragically and so quickly but he said “there are no answers.”
The funeral mass was concelebrated by Mr O’Neill’s cousin, Brother John who travelled from England.
There were emotional scenes when Mr O’Neill’s partner, Maxine read a poem in which she said, “I have lost my very best friend.”
Fr O’Duggan offered his sympathy to Mr O’Neill’s partner, his children Jake and Jasmine, parents Angela and Hugh, his brother David and his sister Sharon as well as his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family.
Mr O'Neill's coffin was carried from the church by family and friends to a recording of The Voyageby Christy Moore. His burial took place at Fingal Cemetery in Balgriffin.
A European arrest warrant was issued by a Spanish judge two weeks ago for the suspected gunman, who is wanted for the murder of Mr O’Neill and the attempted murder of two others at Coco’s Bar in Benalmadena.
Police say the suspect who had been ejected by bar staff returned half an hour later with a gun.
