Modern Irish society is in danger of allowing itself to become careless about human life, a priest warned yesterday as he spoke of the trauma that the murder of a father of five had caused.
Fr Anthony O'Brien told mourners at the funeral Mass of John Mahon (60) at St Patrick's Church in Fermoy what a shock it was to the whole community that he had been shot dead near his home in the town over the weekend.
Fr O'Brien recalled how just last Saturday, people had gathered in the church for the funeral Mass of 42-year-old father of one, Tom Fahy who died on January 30th in London after being shot by armed raiders in Streatham.
"Just last Saturday there was a funeral Mass here for a man who died from gunshot wounds during an armed raid in London, a man, I'm told, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, that was very tragic," said Fr O'Brien.
"But for many people who didn't know him, well that happened in London, over there, but that very night, John Mahon was shot dead in St Bernard's Place. It had happened here in our town and that trauma is with us and will stay with us for some time.
"One has to wonder is violence glorified on our screens as our society becomes more violent? One has to question is the sanctity of human life no longer paramount? Another violent death in Dublin this morning reported on the news at lunchtime - how many is that this week?"
Among the mourners were Mr Mahon's wife Mary and the couple's adult children, Kevin, Brian, Dermot, John and Caroline and his friend, Noreen Sexton, while many of the prayers of the faithful were read by other relatives and family members.
Fr O'Brien recalled that on Tuesday night, Mr Mahon's wife had asked that prayers be said at the funeral Mass for the family of John Collins who was arrested by gardaí on Monday and has been charged with the murder.
Mr Mahon was a central figure in the re-establishment of Fermoy Boxing Club in 1981 and resting on his coffin was a boxing glove and a photograph of Mr Mahon taken with Muhammad Ali.
Outside the church, members of Fermoy Boxing Club formed a guard of honour for the tricolour-covered coffin, along with members of Fermoy Angling Club and Fermoy Bol Cumman na hÉireann. Mr Mahon was actively involved in both sporting clubs.
Mr Mahon was president of the Munster Council of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and several officers of the IABA were also present as were members of the Glen, Sunnyside and Lough Leeside clubs in Cork, Clonmel, Dungarvan and Waterford Boxing Clubs.
A former soldier, Mr Mahon had served with the 41st Battalion on UN peace keeping duties in Cyprus and among the mourners were representatives of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association and members of the 1st Cavalry Squadron from Collins Barracks in Cork.
Also present was the Mayor of Fermoy, Cllr Aileen Pyne and other members of Fermoy Town Council, as well as a large number of local gardaí, including Supt Flor Horan who led the investigation into Mr Mahon's murder.