Authorities need to look out for "red flags" coming up to certain funerals linked to criminality, a councillor has warned.
It comes as a Dublin priest is promising to ban the "glorification of criminality" during funeral masses in his church.
Fr Bill O'Shaughnessy, who is based in Tallaght in Dublin, has witnessed incidents including someone wearing a balaclava while entering the church carrying a coffin, and floral arrangements of alcohol, screwdrivers and cars.
Independent Councilor in Tallaght Mick Duff told Lunchtime Live some of the behaviour is actually dangerous.
"We've seen the scrambler bikes outside the church, we've seen revving during the service," he said.
"[There was] a funeral here in Tallaght where floral displays linked to criminality [featured] screwdrivers.
"Cars then escorting the funeral procession to the graveyard or the crematorium and cars driving on both sides of the road... scramblers going up and down the footpaths".
Cllr Duff said such behaviour is putting the general public "in danger."
"It's not something that we're used to here in this country, it's not something that we come to associate with funerals," he said.
"Funerals are a time when the community comes together to show respect for the family and to show respect for the deceased."
'Red flags'
Cllr Duff said he believes the church and Gardaí should take a strong stance.
"There are red flags leading up to some funerals," he said.
"Maybe the hearse being taken from the funeral parlour and driven back up to the family home on the night before the funeral - and the behaviour and the manner in which that will happen.
"Whether there's large crowds gathering or [if the hearse is] escorted by these cars that literally take over the entire road.
"That was a red flag before one particular funeral - that should have told the Gardaí [that] tomorrow is going to be difficult".
'High-profile criminals'
Irish Sun Senior News Reporter Michael Doyle told the show every funeral is different.
"In some situations you might get a funeral where there's a person who's loosely connected to crime and they might come from a decent family and they're a bit less sinister," he said.
"But there has been a number of funerals I have attended where there has been the heavy Garda activity, there's a been a number of high-profile criminals attending.
"You do see the motocross bikes on display [and] I've seen balaclavas.
"There was one funeral - probably over 10 years ago - where there was actually shots fired over the coffin because it was a display of republicanism".
Mr Doyle said there seems to more displays at funerals for younger people.
"It seems to be the case that a lot of funerals involving younger people connected to crime have seen displays of the cars, the balaclavas and all that kind of activity," he said.
He added that there should be "more engagement with local communities, with the Catholic Church coming up to certain funerals."
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