An Irish gangster killed in a car crash has been laid to rest in a gold-coloured coffin pictured being lifted through a house window.
Images of Stephen O’Reilly’s funeral also show massive floral tributes which included a stack of white powder with the words “No Comment”, and a snap of him topless.
The muscle-bound dad-of-one from Beech Park West in Athlone, Co Westmeath, was pronounced dead at the scene in Co Offaly last Monday, May 20. He was known as a violent and dangerous criminal with convictions for burglaries and serious offences, BelfastLive reports.
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Described by pals as a “fella with a heart of gold”, it was only fitting that O’Reilly’s body was carried in a large gold-coloured coffin from a hearse to the tune of Tina Turner’s ‘Simply the Best’.
Videos showed six men and a woman placing it through the front window of his home and a male voice can be heard saying ‘He’s coming home the way he was out.”
Large floral tributes were on display outside Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Coosan, Athlone, on Saturday for the slain gangster’s funeral Mass. One elaborate display showed a container full of white powder with the words ‘No Comment’ underneath it, while another showed a portrait of the gangster showing off his six pack and tattooed biceps with the words ‘The real Pablo. The one and only Gangster Reilly.””
Other images on large floral displays showed a mobile phone and a bottle of black pepper with the name of a detective underneath reading: Detective …..0 Reilly 1, taunting An Garda Siochana.
Earlier, pals of the gangster, who was in his 30s, paid tribute to him following his sudden death with one pal writing on social media: “It feels like a terrible dream,” while another wrote: “Literally can’t come to terms with it or even think its true.”
Another pal wrote: “Literally can’t come to terms with it or even think it’s true. You were a true Legend and always a great laugh. A fella with a heart of gold and do anything for your friends and family. So many funny memories I’ll never forget ya for the things ya done for me.”
In the aftermath of the funeral, a video shared on social media showed a male lying face down on the ground with a scrambler bike beside him shortly after he was arrested by gardai.
In a statement, An Garda Siochana said: “Gardaí arrested and charged a male, 30s, in Athlone, County Westmeath on Saturday, May 25 for road traffic offences. As this matter is currently before the courts, An Garda Síochána is not in a position to comment further.”
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