Plea to judges and politicians at funeral of slain apprentice plumber

In an atmosphere of shock, distress and powerlessness, more than 2,000 mourners attending the funeral Mass yesterday of Anthony Campbell, the 20-year-old apprentice plumber shot dead last week, heard his uncle, Davy Owens, end his eulogy with a plea to judges and politicians.

"Anthony was just that boy we always dream of," Mr Owens told the congregation."As a son, he fulfilled everything that could possibly be asked of him. As a brother, he always did his duty. As a member of his community, he did his duty. As a member of Irish society, Anthony Campbell did his duty. And I would like to plead with the legislature and the judiciary - on whom we depend - to tell them that Anthony Campbell did his duty at every level and now, I'd like to see you do yours."

His words were greeted with strong, sustained applause.

In an emotional service at John's Lane Augustinian church in central Dublin, the rich colours of Christmas converged with the red and white of Anthony's beloved Arsenal.

Under a red Christmas star and white fairy lights above the altar, cream lilies and red roses adorned his coffin, and among a mass of wreaths shaped into footballs and playing pitches, and spelling out the words "son", "brother", "grandson", "cousin", and "English", Anthony received what he would doubtless have considered one of the greatest tributes of all: a wreath delivered yesterday morning from Arsenal football club itself.

His devotion to his own football club, Bradog, was evident in the well-worn No 11 jersey on the coffin, now bearing the letters Anto RIP, and in the appearance of his young football mates, enough of them to occupy three pews; pale, subdued, awkward, dressed in respectful black suits and ties.

They rose and went to encircle the coffin before Mass began, faced with a large photograph of their friend, with his open, trusting face, as Michael Kelly from Ballyfermot, a family friend, sang Do I Love You?

Later, Anthony's mother, Christine, would recite a poem called My First Christmas in Heaven - "Have a merry Christmas and wipe away the tear/Remember I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year."

Chief celebrant Fr Seán McArdle spoke of Anthony's "cruel and senseless death . . . What happened to Anthony was terrible and evil and has shocked all right-thinking and decent people. We pray that in some way God will touch the hearts of the men and women of violence in our society".

He also spoke of Anthony himself, "a young man full of life, outgoing, a charmer, a good mixer, very affectionate, a wonderful son, brother, grandson and friend. He loved you and was loved in return."

On behalf of Anthony's family, Davy Owens thanked all their neighbours and friends, the workers and management of Laing O'Rourke, the staff of St James's Hospital, the traders of Moore Street, Henry Street and Cole's Lane, the Garda liaison team, the church - "and ultimately all the people of Ireland for their outpouring of grief . . ." He talked about Anthony, noting that his friends nicknamed him "English".

"I don't know why, because Anthony was pure Irish, a stereotypically Irish boy, the kind that fathers, mothers and friends love, an essential part of this community and family, surrounded by warmth and love on all sides."

Anthony "fulfilled every wish that anyone would have for a son. He had a caring nature, a lovely nature, a giving nature. He was someone the younger ones looked up to and tried to emulate.

For the parting prayers, his young friends again encircled the coffin, and moments later, as they carried him out of the church, tears trickling down their faces, followed by his mother, father Noel and siblings Amy, Travis and Noel, Michael Kelly sang My Son.

Out on Thomas Street, his grandfather, Louis, reached out to touch the hearse and wept. Mourners talked about the "massive" crowd at the funeral on Tuesday of "Marlo" Hyland (the drug-dealer and target of the double shooting in which Anthony was an innocent victim), and despaired.