Outcry As Shots Fired Over Open Coffin

Online footage showing shots being fired over an open coffin have sparked outrage among local political representatives.

The video emerged following the funeral of Alex Murphy, a veteran republican, in west Belfast on Monday 19 August.

The 61-year-old was one of two men convicted of the IRA killing of two soldiers, Corporal David Howes and Corporal Derek Wood in March 1988. They were murdered after they drove into an IRA funeral in the area.

The graphic footage shows Murphy's open coffin, draped in an Irish tricolour, with two men wearing black balaclavas standing over it. One is holding a gun and was met with an applause after firing a number of shots in the air. The display appears to have taken place in a busy residential area.

Police have launched an investigation into the act, which has been widely condemned across the political spectrum.

UUP MLA Doug Beattie said the video displays a sight that belongs to "a past that we were supposed to have left behind".

The party's spokesperson for justice, Mr Beattie urged the Public Prosecution Service to explain the standard for prosecutions in cases involving paramilitary displays. "As far as a reasonable bystander is concerned, anyone involved in yesterday's event wearing berets, matching clothing and 'D Company' armbands, was involved in an illegal paramilitary display and should be prosecuted accordingly," the upper Bann MLA commented.

Mr Beattie also said the act shows that IRA structures continue to operate in the west Belfast area.

DUP MLA for east Belfast Jolene Bunting said the issue will be raised at the next meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, while party leader Arlene Foster condemned the IRA display as "utterly depressing".

Meanwhile, TUV Leader Jim Allister urged the PSNI to investigate the footage seriously. He said: "There are a number of obvious questions. Not least who is the unmasked man standing to the left of the footage? Why is he wearing rubber gloves at a funeral?

"The PSNI need to be seen to taking this matter seriously. There are obvious lines of inquiry which need to be followed. Confidence in the police service is already at a low point within the Unionist community. If they are going to recover any of the lost ground there must be prosecutions following today's events."

An SDLP representative for the area hit out after the footage emerged online. Paul Doherty said there is no place in society for the actions of those behind the dangerous display.

"It doesn't matter who is beneath the mask, what their motives are or where in the city it happens, there is no place on the streets of Belfast for masked men with guns to assert their influence or dominance in our communities," Mr Doherty commented.

"The practice of firing shots above coffins in residential communities has to stop. It's dangerous, illegal and it's clearly having an impact on community relations."



(JG/CM)