A PRIEST has warned that the Provisional IRA should stay "very well away" from the funeral this morning of Edward O'Brien, the IRA man who died when the bomb he was carrying detonated on a London bus.
Gardai conducted an elaborate security operation in Mr O'Brien's home town of Gorey, Co Wexford, yesterday as his remains arrived home for burial.
The local curate, Father Walter Forde, said both the church and the O'Brien family had made it clear that no IRA involvement in the funeral would be tolerated.
"Gardai have a duty to see that the wishes of the family are respected," he added.
Asked if he had a message for the IRA, he replied "Stay very well away." Republican sources were reported yesterday to have undertaken to fully respect the O'Brien family's wishes.
There will be no paramilitary displays, and no prominent Sinn Fein members will be attending the Gorey funeral.
However, Sinn Fein has called for vigils throughout Northern Ireland to coincide with the funeral. A statement from the party's Northern Ireland chairman, Mr Gerry O hEara, calls for vigils at the same time as the funeral of Volunteer Ed Father Forde received Mr O'Brien's remains at St Michael's Church in Gorey yesterday. The attendance included about 50 friends and family and up to 20 gardai.
At one point in the service, Father Forde asked that "Ed be given peace forever".
Armed gardai began a vigil outside the church on Monday night to ensure that the IRA did not place flags or insignia inside prior to the receipt of Mr O'Brien's remains.
From early yesterday there was intense Garda activity in Gorey involving plain clothes detectives and gardai drafted in from other regions.
At 6.40 a.m. yesterday Mr O'Brien's remains were taken from a ferry at Rosslare Harbour and placed in a white Mercedes estate car. The vehicle drove directly to a funeral home in Gorey.
There was a strong Garda presence both inside and outside the funeral home. At 8.40 a.m. the O'Brien family arrived to identify the remains. Relatives and close friends also attended at the funeral home.
At 11.50 a.m. a funeral cortege led by gardai entered the St Michael's Church grounds. Family, relatives and close friends stood in silence as the coffin was arrived into the church.
Mr Mylie O'Brien helped lift his son's casket. The dead man's sister, Lorraine, was comforted by her aunt, while Gary, his younger brother, laid his head on his mother's shoulder and wept.
Gardai stood in a protective semi circle around the hearse.