Sinn Féin leader attends Ervine's funeral

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams attended the funeral of former loyalist paramilitary David Ervine in the North today.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, Northern secretary Peter Hain and police chief constable Hugh Orde were also among VIPs in East Belfast, which came to a standstill for one of the city’s largest funerals.

Almost 800 people packed into the East Belfast Mission Hall for the service, while outside the streets were lined with onlookers.

Among them were familiar faces once associated with Mr Ervine when he was a member of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force.