Funeral of former Real IRA man told of ‘futility of violence’

The shooting dead of a former leading figure in the Real IRA in Cork highlighted the futility of violence and the pain suffered by those left grieving, mourners at his funeral Mass were told on Thursday.

Father-of-two Aidan O'Driscoll (37) was shot by two attackers as he walked along Old Commons Road in Blackpool at about 5pm on December 7th. On Thursday, several hundred mourners packed St Oliver's Church in Ballyvolane, Cork, to pay their respects.

Leading the mourners were Mr O'Driscoll's fiancee, Marion Ryan whom he was due to marry next May, his children Saoirse and Chulann, his mother Nuala, his brother Mark and his sisters, Nicola and Ciara.

Fr John O Donovan told mourners that many years ago while serving as a young priest in Belfast, he had said the funeral Mass of a young man shot dead.

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“Looking back over those years, I remember the great loss of that young man and the pain, hurt, loneliness and the grief it caused to those who loved him, the futility of violence in all its shapes and forms, but especially the loss of human life and the pain it leaves behind,” said Fr O’Donovan.

“The years have passed by since that funeral, but with the shooting of Aidan last Wednesday, those feelings that I experienced many years ago re-emerge with his death, and that is the sacredness of human life – the hurt, pain and emptiness that it causes to those who loved Aidan in this life.”

Much had been written about Aidan O’Driscoll since his death but it was important that people gathered around his loved ones and commend him to the love and forgiveness of God, he said.

Brief eulogy

Mark O’Driscoll paid tribute to his brother in a brief eulogy and said the picture of his brother painted by the media had failed to take account of how he had changed his life for good.

“He never seemed so happy and or worked so hard and that was down to one person, the love of his life, Marion,” he said.

The deceased’s three siblings brought up offertory gifts which symbolised his life; with Nicola bringing up a photograph of him with his two children, Ciara bringing up his football boots and Mark bringing up a betting slip.

Ms Ryan joined with Fr O’Donovan in tying a card with his name and date of death to a tree of remembrance bearing the names of all those from Ballyvolane who died during the past year.

An active member of Delaney's Hurling and Football Club, Aidan O'Driscoll was remembered by both Delaney's and Glenthorn Celtic FC who provided a guard of honour as his remains were brought from the church to the waiting hearse.

Gardaí maintained a discreet presence at both St Oliver’s Church and St Catherine’s Cemetery. He was buried in a quiet and dignified ceremony in accordance with his family’s wishes that there be no paramilitary presence or involvement.