AS THE family of the London bomber Ed O'Brien awaits the return of his body for burial, a peace vigil was being organised in Gorey, Co Wexford.
A vigil for peace will be held tomorrow in St Michael's church grounds, the same church where O'Brien served as an altar boy.
"This is a visible way for people in the town to show revulsion at the act. They have huge sympathy for the family and they know that they can show that at Ed's funeral," said local curate Father Walter Forde.
Father Forde said the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, a Wexford TD, had arranged for hundreds of white peace ribbons to be distributed at the vigil where there will be prayers and hymns.
The Bishop of Ferns, Dr Comiskey, has expressed his sympathy to the family and will visit them in the future, according to Father Forde.
It is still not known when O'Brien's body will be returned to his family. Friends of the O'Briens have said they are emphatic about their wish not to have paramilitary involvement in the funeral. Local gardai have said they will not allow any IRA involvement.
While his family had no clue about his membership of the IRA, O'Brien is believed to have been recruited into the organisation and sent to England a part of one of its "sleeper" units over two years ago.
As a teenager, he had a short stint selling the Sinn Fein news, paper An Phoblacht. He last visited Gorey at Christmas and gardai were aware he spent time with a known republican in the area.
Gardai have confirmed there are strong republican connections in the area. There have been a number of arms finds near Gorey in recent years including one of the biggest in the State at Ballinacor, near Arklow, Co Wicklow.
While local people argue that O'Brien was recruited after he left Gorey, it is now believed his republican connections may have been stronger. He abruptly left his job as a general bakery hand nearly two years ago. He told some friends he was going to Scotland and others to Germany.
In recent years his relationship with his father had deteriorated, particularly because of his decision to leave school after he had got into trouble there. It is believed they may also have argued over his political leanings.
"Miley would see things in black and white and told Ed to shape up," said a friend. "There were a lot of rows and Ed eventually moved in with his grandmother. Luckily he and Miley made it up at Christmas when he was home Ed O'Brien is described as a "hot head". One Gorey man who was involved with the local boxing club said "He had to give up boxing because there was something wrong with his nose. But I remember one fight that he lost and he was, crying with temper afterwards.