Funeral held for McGreevy in Belfast

A funeral Mass was held today for a former republican prisoner who died after he was attacked in his home.

A funeral Mass was held today for a former republican prisoner who died after he was attacked in his home.

Frank McGreevy (51), was discovered by his 15-year-old son last Saturday, lying in a pool of blood at his west Belfast flat. He was put on a life support machine and died on Tuesday.

The father-of-two is being buried at Belfast's City Cemetery following a service in nearby St Peter's Cathedral.

Mr McGreevy's coffin was carried from the cathedral by his three sisters and other relatives. It had a beret and gloves on top and was draped in a tricolour.

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He was first imprisoned in 1970 aged 14 and in 1975 was sentenced to life for murder. He was released from the Maze/Long Kesh high security prison in Co Antrim in 1990.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams spoke to about 2,000 mourners.

"None of us here should be surprised by the failure of the PSNI to respond properly to criminality in our community," he said.

"The reality is the PSNI is not up to the job at this time of providing the civic policing service that the public demands and needs. It is failing to deliver on call-out times, on responding to information from the public, or in its investigations of anti-social and organised crime."

Mr McGreevy's family, including his sons Francis, who found him in his living room, and Tiernan, attended, alongside his father Hugh.

A man has been charged with Mr McGreevy's murder, as well as six other offences.

PA