Local retired members of the Defence Forces are calling for clarity from the church this week on its position on coffins draped in the tri-colour during the Funeral Mass. The calls follow the funeral last weekend of ex Army member Denis Barry, when a request to allow his coffin to be draped with the tri-colour during the funeral mass was declined.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show this morning, Denis' life-long friend Tommy Sheehan said the funeral went ahead but was facilitated, instead, at Clerkin's Funeral Home in Monaghan town. He highlighted how the tricolour is "everything to a soldier" because they carry it with pride and distinction.
Mr Sheehan added that Denis Barry served overseas on 14 occasions and was involved in charity work across Ireland following his retirement from the army. "He was a hard working fellow; he worked also for the homeless in Dublin and he did a lot of work there travelling up and down, and all that expenses came out of his own pocket," Mr Sheehan continued.
"He was a gentleman and I was shocked to hear what happened on Sunday at his funeral."
