Mourners told violence solves nothing

Problems must be sorted out by peaceful means and violence solves nothing, a priest told mourners at the funeral Mass of the …

Problems must be sorted out by peaceful means and violence solves nothing, a priest told mourners at the funeral Mass of the murdered Limerick traveller, Mr Thomas Harty.

Gardai and detectives mingled with several hundred members of the Travelling community in St John's Cathedral yesterday.

The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Father Joe O'Keeffe CC, St John's, chief celebrant; Father Joe Cussen, acting Adm, St John's; and Father Noel O'Brien CC, Portarlington.

Father O'Keeffe described the death as untimely and tragic and said God understood the sorrow and grief of the Harty family and all the mourners.

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In his homily, he said the law must protect the rights of the people and bring to justice those who broke the law.

He made a plea to the mourners that if they wanted to honour the dead man's memory, they should do everything possible to make sure that no other family would have to go through the pain, grief and suffering of his family.

"We want peace in our homes and communities. We know war is hell. Kosovo refugees water the roads with their tears and that could be said of this situation here," he added.

Father O'Keeffe said there was a great sense of shock and sadness at the tragic loss of a young life.

"Great pain and suffering have been brought to many families. Violence solves nothing and abuse of alcohol sparks off violence and creates more hurt and more pain. Problems must be solved by peaceful means," he concluded.

A Garda escort accompanied the wreath-laden hearse to Mount St Oliver Cemetery as Mr Harty's widow, Philomena, and children and mourners walked behind. Gardai were also stationed along the route and reported no incidents.

Thomas Harty (26), a father of four, was shot dead by two assailants in his caravan at the weekend in a halting site on the outskirts of Portarlington. He had moved there from a halting site on the Ballysimon Road in Limerick.

He was due to go on trial on October 5th in the Central Criminal Court charged in connection with the murder of his first cousin, Danny Harty, during an incident at Wickham Street/ Thomas Street in Limerick on March 29th, 1998.