Updated 12.10pm
AROUND 300 PEOPLE turned out for the funeral of Vincent Ryan in Dublin this morning.
The 26-year-old was shot dead while in a car outside his partner Kelly’ Smyth’s house on McKee Road in Finglas last week.
His funeral mass took place at the Church of the Holy Trinity earlier today, with a strong garda presence in the area, including armed officers.
A guard of honour accompanied Ryan’s coffin, with scenes similar to those at the funeral of his brother Alan Ryan who was murdered in 2012. The men and women in the guard of honour wore white shirts and black ties with lilies on them.
Ryan’s partner Kelly walked in front of the coffin as it made its way to the church, pushing their newborn baby girl Phoenix in a pram.
Friends
When the funeral procession reached the Grange Road, about 15 motorcyclists lined up along the road and revved their engines as the coffin passed by.
A motorbike helmet was also brought to the alter during the ceremony, to symbolise the young man’s love for motorcycles. His boss at the barber shop he worked at also brought up a set of hair clippers and a photograph of Ryan with his baby daughter was held up for mourners to see.
His girlfriend Kelly gave a moving eulogy, telling those gathered at the church what a good father he was, and how their last conversation was about getting married. She said that all of that had been taken from them. Both she and their baby girl would have to live without him.
She said a lot of people had never experienced true love, but she had that with Vinny, and when was taken from her, he took her heart with him.
“It’s so easy to take life for granted”
In his homily, Fr Gerry Corcoran said: “When a family member or close friend dies in sudden and tragic circumstances, our world is turned upside down in an instant.”
We begin to seek answers to questions we have. Why did this happen? Why now? Why Vincent? Why not to someone else? We can be angry with God for not intervening and preventing this tragedy from happening.
“It’s so easy to take life for granted,” he continued.
“We know we all must die, but most of us assume, or at least hope, that it will be when we are old. So when a young person dies suddenly and violently as Vincent has, it is a stark reminder that we should never take life for granted.”
“In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has encouraged all of us to look inwardly at our lives before we point the finger at others and then seek the Lords forgiveness,” he continued.
Much has been written and said about Vincent in the media in recent days. But to his family, to those who actually knew him, he was a loving son, partner, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He loved his partner Kelly and the birth of their baby daughter Phoenix just six weeks ago brought great joy and new life to him.
He also spoke about Ryan’s love of cycling and motor biking.
“He played guitar and enjoyed music. He was a non-smoker, non-drinker and never used drugs. He enjoyed watching TV, especially the Discovery channel,” said the priest.
As the mass ended and Ryan’s funeral was carried out of the church, Ed Sheeran’s ‘Photograph’ was played over the speakers. Mourners moved on to Fingal Cemetery for the burial.
‘No retaliation’
In a statement released at the weekend by Vincent’s brother Dermot Ryan on behalf of the family, the Ryans said Vincent was a “staunch and honourable republican” but was not in the IRA when he was shot.
The family stated that Vincent would receive a “traditional republican family funeral”, adding: “For the avoidance of any doubt he will not receive a military funeral.”
They called for “no retaliation” for his murder.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say