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| Peggy O'Hara: Edel Kelly defends paramilitary funeral | Peggy O'Hara: Edel Kelly defends paramilitary funeral |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The granddaughter of veteran republican Peggy O'Hara has defended a paramilitary display at her funeral. | The granddaughter of veteran republican Peggy O'Hara has defended a paramilitary display at her funeral. |
| Police are investigating events linked to the funeral and wake of the mother of INLA man Patsy O'Hara, who died in the 1981 hunger strike. | Police are investigating events linked to the funeral and wake of the mother of INLA man Patsy O'Hara, who died in the 1981 hunger strike. |
| Dozens of people wearing military-style uniform, berets and dark glasses attended the funeral in Londonderry. | Dozens of people wearing military-style uniform, berets and dark glasses attended the funeral in Londonderry. |
| Unionist politicians criticised the paramilitary display at the funeral in Londonderry on Saturday. | |
| But Edel Kelly said it was what her grandmother wanted. | But Edel Kelly said it was what her grandmother wanted. |
| "She meant the world to me, to my sisters and my brothers as well and to a whole lot of people in Derry, because everyone knew Peggy O'Hara," Ms Kelly said. | |
| "My granny organised everything herself before her death, she wanted what happened at the wake and she wanted what happened at the funeral." | "My granny organised everything herself before her death, she wanted what happened at the wake and she wanted what happened at the funeral." |
| Memory | |
| It was reported earlier this week that shots were fired over Mrs O'Hara's coffin. | It was reported earlier this week that shots were fired over Mrs O'Hara's coffin. |
| Ms Kelly defended the paramilitary theme of the funeral and she also criticised deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. | |
| After the funeral, he had tweeted: "Honoured to attend Peggy O'Hara's funeral Mass this morning. Masked men parading after did little to respect the memory of such a good woman." | |
| But Ms Kelly disagreed. | But Ms Kelly disagreed. |
| "I'm just speaking from my granny's point of view because I knew what her feelings on Martin McGuinness were. He's actually disrespecting her as the mother of a hunger striker. | "I'm just speaking from my granny's point of view because I knew what her feelings on Martin McGuinness were. He's actually disrespecting her as the mother of a hunger striker. |
| "It's something that my granny wanted. If he's condemning that, then he's condemning the wishes of my granny. | "It's something that my granny wanted. If he's condemning that, then he's condemning the wishes of my granny. |
| "If it happened in their tradition I would have no problem with that. Patsy O'Hara died. He gave his life for Ireland." | "If it happened in their tradition I would have no problem with that. Patsy O'Hara died. He gave his life for Ireland." |
| Convictions | |
| DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell was critical of the police response at Mrs O'Hara's funeral. | DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell was critical of the police response at Mrs O'Hara's funeral. |
| "Despite our efforts with the police, it would seem that there were no visible signs of police in close proximity to the funeral cortege on Saturday," he said. | |
| "Men and women dressed in paramilitary garb with faces covered were free to march, for almost two miles, around the streets of Londonderry." | "Men and women dressed in paramilitary garb with faces covered were free to march, for almost two miles, around the streets of Londonderry." |
| Ulster Unionist Ross Hussey said people would expect to see convictions "after this brazen display of paramilitary thuggery". | Ulster Unionist Ross Hussey said people would expect to see convictions "after this brazen display of paramilitary thuggery". |
| Edel Kelly believes her grandmother's death is being used a political football. | Edel Kelly believes her grandmother's death is being used a political football. |
| "As we walked along from Longtower chapel, down past where we used to live in Ardfoyle where Peggy brought us up, everybody on Bishop Street came out and blessed themselves. | "As we walked along from Longtower chapel, down past where we used to live in Ardfoyle where Peggy brought us up, everybody on Bishop Street came out and blessed themselves. |
| "We didn't go through any contentious areas, it wasn't about that. It was about honouring my granny and the suffering that she's gone through all these years. | "We didn't go through any contentious areas, it wasn't about that. It was about honouring my granny and the suffering that she's gone through all these years. |
| "They shouldn't be bringing this into politics." | "They shouldn't be bringing this into politics." |