Thousands flock to republican Joe O’Neill’s funeral

Upwards on 1,000 mourners turned out for the funeral of one of the founding members of Provisional Sinn Féin and a “towering figure of Irish republicanism” who was buried in brilliant sunshine in Co Donegal yesterday.

Veteran republican Joe O’Neill, 76, who came from Bundoran, died in Sligo General Hospital on Wednesday night and was laid to rest in Ballyshannon after Mass in St Joseph’s Church yesterday.

More than 100 gardaí including armed detectives mounted a discreet security operation for the funeral that passed off peacefully.