Media criticised at gangland funeral

THE media was criticised by a priest leading the funeral Mass of murdered gang leader John Daly yesterday.

The 27-year-old Dublin criminal was shot five times as he sat in a taxi with friends after a night out last week. Fr Declan Brennan told those gathered at St Oliver Plunkett’s Church that the Finglas man’s slaying was “sick and psychotic”.

It was a “brutal assassination”, he told parishioners including Daly’s parents, John and Marian.

Fr Brennan also criticised recent newspaper coverage that had suggested Catholic churches turn away gang funerals or that the Church become involved in helping gardaí.

He said the editor was obviously not a Catholic.

This was “gutter press”, church attendees were told, and it was alive and well.

Parishioners were told that the Church did speak out against drug barons and gangs.

“There’s no glory in crime, gangs and drugs,” he added.

When Daly was killed, many mothers hearing the news would have thought it was their son who had been murdered, said Fr Brennan.

His killing had sent shockwaves through communities in Finglas.

But locals wanted the killings and crime to stop. Enough was enough, added Fr Brennan, saying it was “time to grow up”.

Many young men at the funeral could be victims, he warned.

A photograph of Daly lay on his coffin yesterday, as his siblings lit candles.

Parishioners were told of his love for horses and bikes and symbols of both were placed on the altar. A woman made a speech on behalf of his best friend, where it was highlighted that Daly had few friends.

Songs were also sung at the ceremony, including Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven as well as You Raise Me Up.

Some well-known criminal figures were spotted near the funeral.

While in prison, Daly had called RTÉ’s Liveline from his mobile phone. The controversy led to a clampdown on crime bosses using phones behind bars and is a leading theory gardaí are probing for Daly’s killing.