Several hundred mourners attended the funeral this morning of the Dublin-born soldier killed while serving with the British army in Iraq earlier this month.
Members of Lance Cpl Ian Malone's Irish Guard regiment in ceremonial uniform attended the service at the Church of the Assumption in Ballyfermot this morning. However, the military display was low-key and there was no flag on the coffin.
Describing the 28-year-old soldier's death as a "huge loss", the parish priest of Ballyfermot, Fr Joe Kett, said Lance Cpl Malone was a "brave young Irishman" who had always had a "great outlook on life".
Fr Kett said that Lance Cpl Malone had found the "job of his heart" when he joined the army.
The priest, who was accompanied on the altar by the regiment's chaplain, Fr Andrew Lloyd, expressed his condolences to the soldier's parents, May and Joe Malone; to his brother, Edward; and sisters Michelle, Debbie and Carol.
Fr Lloyd said Lance Cpl Malone had always stayed "faithful to his Irish roots" and the regiment was extremely proud of him. He said Lance Cpl Malone had given his life to make Iraq a better place.
Among the mourners were members of the Irish Defence Forces, the FCA and a number British ex-servicemen.
After the funeral mass, a lone piper from the Irish Guards led the coffin from the church, which was carried by a colour party of Irish Guards.
The cortege stopped outside Lance Cpl Malone's home in Ballyfermot, before proceeding to Palmerstown Cemetery.
