Hundreds of people have attended the funeral in West Belfast of an INLA man who died in Dublin five days after being knifed in a confrontation between the paramilitary group and a drugs gang. Nine men wearing black berets and sunglasses escorted the remains of Patrick Campbell as they were taken to Milltown cemetery for burial.
Security forces kept their distance as the remains of 22-year-old Patrick Campbell were taken from his family's home in New Barnsley. Before the cortege moved off, nine men dressed in white shirts, black berets and sunglasses formed a guard of honour and saluted. Hundreds of mourners walked behind the coffin, which was draped in a tricolour and a starry plough flag, with a beret, gloves and a belt on top.
Many others joined the cortege as it made its way to Corpus Christi church in Ballymurphy, where a requiem Mass was held. Among the many wreaths paying tribute to the INLA member was one from the IRA in Belfast. A group of men prevented reporters or camera crews from going near the church at one stage. As the coffin was taken from the church with the flags and trappings on it, it was again escorted by a guard of honour. Burial took place at Milltown cemetery.
The oration by Paul Little of the IRSP described Patrick Campbell as being on the frontline of the war against drugs. He also criticised police forces on both sides of the border and claimed that they were directing their action against anti-drugs activists instead of confronting drug dealers.
His uncle said that the family had been devastated by the brutal nature of his nephew's death and that their grief had been made worse by, what he said, were a number of false reports circulating about Mr. Campbell. He said that his nephew had no criminal record. Mr. Campbell's father, Robert "Fats" Campbell, was a member of an IRA group who escaped from Crumlin Road Prison in Belfast in 1981. They were part of the so-called M60 gang involved in a siege on the Antrim Road after an SAS officer had been shot dead.
