Final salute for Derry republican

A volley of shots was fired over the coffin of a republican in Derry on Tuesday evening.

Three volunteers fired a number of shots over the Tricolour-draped coffin of Bogside man, Jim Gallagher, who died suddenly at his home earlier this week.

Mr Gallagher was interned by the British crown forces in the 1970s and had recently been involved with the Republican Network for Unity.

The shots were fired as Mr Gallagher’s remains were brought back to his home shortly after 6pm on Tuesday evening. The coffin was placed on trestles outside the man’s home and the three masked volunteers appeared from a nearby alleyway and took up firing positions before firing a number of shots from handguns.

A crowd had gathered in the street for the return of Mr Gallagher’s remains and applauded following the final salute.

A guard of honour was accorded to the funeral earlier today [Thursday].

Six men in black berets and gloves lined up silently as the coffin was placed on a plinth and draped in the Irish tricolour in the heart of the Bogside in Derry.

His remains, with black gloves on top of the coffin, were carried from his Cable Street home through the streets of the Bogside to St Columba’s church in the city, where Requiem mass was held.

In October, a volley of shots was fired over John Brady’s tricolour-dreped coffin at his sister’s home in Strabane.

Unionist extremist Jim Allister said the salute at Gallagher’s funeral was “show of strength” and a “scandal”.

“IRA gun law has prevailed,” he declared.

Urgent Appeal