Mourners at the funeral of Cork drug dealer Michael Ahern, whose body was found inside a freezer in Portugal earlier this month, were yesterday told by a priest that God was always forgiving.
The body of Mr Ahern, from Churchfield Green, Gurranabraher, in Cork, was recovered by police in Albufeira in the Algarve on September 15th last. He had been assaulted and shot in the head four times.
Fr John Manley was the celebrant at the funeral Mass for the 38-year-old father of two at the Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher on the northside of the city yesterday.
In his homily Fr Manley said the Ahern family had suffered considerably following Michael's passing but their distress had been eased somewhat by the kindness of friends and neighbours.
Fr Manley said God was merciful and compassionate and that it was not appropriate to stand in judgment of any individual's actions.
"God is always forgiving and merciful. Family and friends are always concerned about salvation. But our saviour Jesus is 1,000 times more concerned. He would not have us judge anyone. We must not try to place limits on God's mercy and compassion. No matter what happens God is on people's side. It is not the will of God that such things [the murder of Mr Ahern] would happen."
Classmates of Mr Ahern's two teenage sons, Daniel and Stephen, attended yesterday's requiem mass dressed in their school uniforms. A photo of the dead man was placed on top of his coffin prior to the requiem Mass.
Michael Ahern is survived by his mother, Lily, sisters Christine and Catherine and his two sons. He was buried at St Catherine's cemetery in Kilcully.
Mr Ahern was born in Bweeng, near Mallow, but spent much of his adult life in Gurranabraher. He left Ireland eight years ago, living for a time in Holland and Spain before moving to Portugal last January.