Youths on motorbikes bring Finglas to standstill at gun victim Brandon Ledwidge’s funeral
A heavy garda presence was visible around the church as Brandon Ledwidge was laid to rest.
Youths on motorbikes rev engines at Brandon Ledwidge's funeral in Finglas
MASKED youths on motorcycles brought Finglas village to a near standstill this morning as the coffin of gangland murder victim Brandon Ledwidge was brought to St Canice’s Church for his funeral.
Youths on bikes, driving both ahead and behind the horse-drawn-carriage carrying the 23 year old’s remains, mounted footpaths and performed doughnuts on the village’s main street.
A number of the youths wore T-shirts with the deceased youth’s image and the message ‘rest in peace Brandon’ printed on them.
A motorbike rider pulls a wheelie at the funeral of Brandon Ledwidge
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Ledwidge, the first gangland shooting victim of 2023, was shot several times as he answered the door of his home on Barry Drive at around 7pm on Saturday, November 18.
His shooting prompted dismay among local people and politicians alike because of his young age.
This morning, hundreds of mourners gathered outside St. Canice’s Church awaiting the arrival of the funeral cortege.
A number of youths on motorbikes outside the funeral
A heavy garda presence was visible around the church with squad cars parked in the car-park, on both sides of the main street and a garda van across the road.
At approximately 11.20 pm, the cortege arrived in the village.
The deafening sound of more than two dozen motorbikes gunning their engines signalled the cortege’s arrival before the motorcyclists entered ahead of it with a number of drivers performing doughnuts and wheelies to signal it’s arrival.
Motorbike riders at Brandon Ledwidge's funeral
A short distance from the church, Ledwidge’s coffin, a steel American style casket, was removed from its glass carriage and carried aloft on the shoulders of a group of young men.
With the motorcyclists streaming ahead – a number of whom mounted the footpath at high speeds to get past the temporary traffic obstruction, the coffin bearers walked it a considerable distance to the church where his funeral mass took place.
Motorcyclist at the funeral of Brandon Ledwidge
Just days after his murder on November 18, Ledwidge had been due to appear in court on on drug possession and intent to sell charges.
The 23-year-old was facing three separate charges for possession of heroin and cocaine with the intent of sale or supply.
Mourners at the funeral of Brandon Ledwidge
Two charges relating to the possession of cocaine and diamorphine and two of possession for sale or supply were due to be heard last Tuesday.
Gardaí are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry into Ledwidge’s death.
The Sunday World revealed two weeks ago that he had been working for a Finglas based drugs gang in the months before his death.
Gardai maintained a visible presence at the funeral
Gardaí are investigating claims Ledwidge had rowed with another criminal in the lead up to his death and also that he may have been targeted as he was seeking to strike out on his own.
A gunman who had called to the home on the night of the killing opened fire, shooting the victim four times in the head and body.
He was shot at close range and “didn’t stand a chance” sources added.
Funeral of Brandon Ledwidge
A post-mortem was last week completed by the State Pathologist Dr Sally Ann Collis, “the results of which were not released for operational reasons.”
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
