The Church has to take a “much stronger line” on funerals that glorify criminality, according to columnist Brenda Power.

There was a large garda presence at the funeral of Blanchardstown attack gunman Tristan Sherry earlier this week – with the service passing off without incident.

Floral tributes that were included in the service featured a screwdriver and plyers, a balaclava and gloves, a bottle of Grey Goose vodka and a marijuana joint.

On Newstalk Breakfast Ms Power said there have been examples of people bringing weapons into churches as tributes in the past.

“It's kind of important to note the difference … these were floral tributes, so they're more or less part of the secular end of the celebrations,” she said.

“They would been in the church, but they're not part of the service,

“I suppose my concern would be where there are eulogies glorifying criminality and where actual weapons are brought into the church and handed up as gifts.

“I think the Catholic Church has to take a much, much stronger line on that.”

Funerals

Ms Power said the former Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he aimed to prevent people from using funerals to “glorify their reputations” – however, very little has changed in the years since.

She admitted that it would not be fair to ask priests to police what can and can’t be brought into the church – but said a “centralised authority” should take control of the situation.

'Idolising criminals'

She noted that Cabra Priest Fr Joe Keegan earlier this week asked the church to take a harder stance to prevent the ‘idolising of criminals’ at funerals.

“He said his area - and he used the word - was plagued by funerals of gangland figures,” said Ms Power.

“He said they were getting these extraordinary send-offs in a community, he said, they had preyed upon and they were being portrayed as heroes and great fellas.”

She said the Church should have a ‘monitor’ from outside the parish attending the funeral, ready to step in if anything untoward happens.

“I know that there have been gardaí at some of these funerals and if the priest has to be escorted off the altar, then that's what has to happen,” she said.

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Main image shows a hearse, ambulance and Garda car are seen outside St. Canice's Church in Finglas, 16-01-2024. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews