From The Irish Examiner, Oct.19, 2000
O’Connor killing splits Republicans
by Joe Oliver
SHOTS were fired over the coffin of
murdered republican dissident Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ O’Connor yesterday as his
funeral took place amid a bitter row over who was responsible for the killing.
Six men and two women in paramilitary
uniforms flanked the coffin as it left his parents’ home in Ballymurphy,
West Belfast, on the short journey to the nearby Corpus Christi Church.
One Real IRA gunman stepped forward
and fired three shots from a handgun close to the spot where father of
three Mr O’Connor was gunned down last Friday.
Seconds later the colour party, all
wearing khaki combat dress and balaclavas, disappeared into the house.
No attempt was made by security forces
to gain entry to the family home.
Leading dissidents, including 32 County
Sovereignty Movement chairman, Francis Mackey, and Marion Price, who served
a life sentence for the Old Bailey bombing in London, were among the mourners.
Among the pall bearers was veteran
republican, Brendan Hughes, one of the IRA hunger strikers in the 1980
campaign inside the Maze Prison and at one time one of the most wanted
men in Ireland.
The cortege was led by a flatbed lorry
covered with wreaths. One spelt out the words Oglaigh na hEireann, the
official name adopted by the Real IRA.
Cards were also sent from the 2nd
Battalion Belfast Brigade and from the organisation’s Derry brigade.
A tricolour, black beret and gloves
were removed from the coffin as it entered the church where Fr Don O’Rawe
told mourners that Mr O’Connor was looking for a priest on the day he was
murdered.
“He wanted to make his confession
to prepare himself for his little son’s first Holy Communion, coming up
soon. What a beautiful, wonderful and life giving gesture that was,” said
Fr O’Rawe.
“But God knows his heart. God knows
he went to confession. God knows he wanted to come home,” he added.
The funeral oration was read by Marion
Price, who blamed the Provisional IRA for the murder.
The Provisionals have denied any involvement
in the killing.
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