IRA agrees to stay away from bomber's funeral

ALAN MURDOCH

Dublin

IRA sources yesterday gave assurances that it would respect the wishes of the family of dead IRA bomber Edward O'Brien and stay away from his funeral this morning in his home town of Gorey, Co Wexford.

Tight security surrounded the arrival of O'Brien's remains yesterday to ensure no paramilitary rites were staged prior to the funeral ceremony. Four Garda special branch cars provided an armed escort on the 45-mile trip from Rosslare Harbour for the unmarked white car carrying the coffin of the 21-year-old man, who died when the bomb he was transporting exploded prematurely on a bus at the Aldwych 10 days ago.

The coffin was taken to Gorey's St Michael's Roman Catholic Church. The parish priest, Father Walter Forde, has been paying daily visits to the traumatised parents, Myles, 46, and Margo, 44, since they were informed last Tuesday the man killed in the blast was their son.

The priest said assurances given yesterday by local Republicans that there would be no paramilitary presence would be "very warmly welcomed, not just by the Church, but by local people".