Thousands attend the funeral of Thomas Reilly who was shot dead by a British soldier in Belfast.
Thomas Reilly, also known as Kidso, had worked as a road manager for many famous pop groups in England . He was shot dead on 9 August by British soldier Ian Thain.
On the day of Thomas Reilly's funeral, his coffin is removed from the Reilly home on the Turf Lodge housing estate in Belfast. His mother Bridie is comforted by family and neighbours. The youngest of Thomas Reilly’s three sisters, 16 year old Anna, is overcome with grief and has to be taken to a neighbour's house.
Thousands of mourners attended the removal. Friends and neighbours help the dead man’s father, Jim, and his brothers Michael and Jim to carry the coffin.
Thomas Reilly's brother Jim, a former drummer in the Belfast punk band Stiff Little Fingers, flew in from the United States with his sister Brenda to attend the funeral.
Four parish priests joined by the Bishop of Down and Connor Doctor Cathal Daly celebrated requiem mass in the Holy Trinity Church in Ballymurphy.
After the mass the coffin was taken to the place where the fatal shoot took place.
Gerry Adams Member of Parliament (MP) for West Belfast and other Sinn Féin members took a turn to carry the coffin. Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin and Siobhan Fahey of the pop group Bananarama led the funeral cortege.
As the funeral reached Belfast City Cemetery gates, two vans were burning nearby on the Falls Road.
The security forces to be seen at the burning barricade were the first in evidence since the funeral began two and a half hours earlier and they did not intrude at the burial.
Among the wreaths were tributes from musicians and bands including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Altered Images and The Jam.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 August 1983. The reporter is Poilín Ní Chiaráin.
