Ciaran Heffron's mother, Theresa, was too ill to walk behind his coffin as it left the family home for Mater Dei Church in Crumlin, Co Antrim. But his sisters, brother, father and other friends and relatives walked silently in the relentless rain. Many carried red roses.
The dark skies reflected the sombre mood of the village. It's a quiet peaceful community, unused to sectarian killings. "I don't remember as sad a day as this in a long time," said one old man. Mrs Heffron, who has stomach cancer, was driven to the church. Ciaran (22), a student at the University of Ulster, had come home last weekend to visit her. Later he met friends for a drink in a nearby pub. They had a good night.
Ciaran said his goodbyes around 2.30 a.m. on Saturday and headed home alone. He was shot dead outside the bus station in Upper Main Street. His body was found by a taxi-driver. The funeral cortege paused yesterday at the spot. At the same time, students at the University of Ulster held a minute's silence. All shops and businesses in Crumlin closed to pay their respects. Hundreds of people lined the streets. It took the cortege an hour to reach the church. The pews were overflowing so hundreds stood in the rain in the church grounds, beside the big, black cross.
No group has admitted the attack, but the LVF is believed to have been responsible. Four people are still being questioned by detectives. It's a predominantly Catholic village now but community relations are good.
"It's loyalists outside Crumlin who are the problem," said one mourner. "They hate it that Catholics have moved into this area." Ciaran's friends said he hadn't a sectarian bone in his body.
"He was a very, very quiet fellow," said one. "He worked hard. He had no enemies," said another. Father John O'Sullivan described him as a credit to his parents and his community, "a young man of the highest standards".
He was killed because of his religion. "Some time on Friday evening, some evil men decided that a Catholic young man should die in Crumlin. Inspired by the devil, they made the decision to kill Ciaran Heffron. The guilt of his murder will always remain with them.
"Ultimately, they will also die and will have to stand before the Lord in judgment, Ciaran's blood, lying on the ground outside the bus depot, will cry for justice," Father O'Sullivan said.
The auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Michael Dallat, who presided at the funeral, appealed to people not to be crushed by grief. "We must not give in to those who want to destroy our community. We cannot, dare not, give up hope. We must continue to pray, to pray for an end to sectarianism. We must continue to pray for a just and lasting peace in which we can all live in mutual understanding and respect."