Senior republicans were among large crowds who gathered for the funeral of senior IRA figure Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, who died last week following a short illness.
Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, North Belfast MP John Finucane and North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín were among large crowds who turned out for the funeral in Belfast.
Mr McFarlane, originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, died at the age of 74 after a short illness on Friday.
He was known by many for having taken part in a prison escape in September 1983, along with Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly, who delivered the graveside oration at Milltown Cemetery.
Mr Kelly recalled being on the run with Mr McFarlane across Europe, and paid tribute to him for having been a key part of the planning of the "audacious escape".
As a teenager Mr McFarlane had intended to become a priest and entered a seminary in Wales, Mr Kelly said, but returned home to Belfast at the start of the Troubles.
Mr McFarlane was sent to Maze Prison after being convicted of a deadly bomb attack on a pub in the Protestant Shankill Road area in 1975.
He went on to become the officer in command of the H-Block prisoners during the 1981 hunger strike over conditions in the Maze.
In 1983, he was among 38 IRA inmates who fled the facility in Co Antrim.
They used smuggled guns and knives to overpower prison staff before hijacking a food lorry and driving to the main gate.
He was later recaptured with Mr Kelly in the Netherlands.
Mr Kelly said McFarlane went on to "throw himself into local politics and community work" following his release from prison in 1997.
"He supported the negotiations for the Good Friday Agreement and used his very strong influence talking to others," he said.
"He was a huge part of getting me elected as an MLA for North Belfast in 1998.
"He had no interest in becoming an elected representative but was a driving force in North Belfast and increasing our vote, election after election."
Mr Kelly told mourners that delivering a united Ireland would be the "most fitting tribute" to Mr McFarlane.
Earlier, the street outside McFarlane's home in the north of the city was filled while a burial service and blessing was conducted.
Mr Adams was among those who took a turn at carrying McFarlane's coffin, which was draped with an Irish flag, along the Cliftonville Road before it was transported by hearse to Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast.
Yesterday, DUP MLA Phillip Brett told the Northern Ireland Assembly that there was "not a scintilla" of remorse from Sinn Féin over McFarlane's past violent actions.
Mr Brett said the public commentary from Sinn Féin after Mr McFarlane's death had been "disgraceful".
