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Sligo Presence at Ryan Real IRA Funeral

The funeral has taken place of Real IRA member Alan Ryan (31).

A strong Garda presence was evident outside the Church of the Holy Trinity in Donaghmede, north Dublin, where the service took place, attended by a large number of mourners.

Ryan was man shot dead in a gangland style attack at Grange Lodge Avenue in Clongriffin, on Monday, close to his home. Two gunmen where involved in the killing.

Two Sligo men were with Ryan at the time and one of the men, Aaron Neilis from Coolaney was wounded in the legs. He is expected to make a full recovery. The second man Paul Stewart was ignored by the gunman. Both Sligo men are members of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM).

It is understood that several members of the 32CSM, including some from Sligo, attended the funeral today.

At the time of his death Ryan was on bail awaiting serious criminal charges arising from an alleged extortion racket he was involved in.

He had allegedly threatened some pub owners in the city to close their premises and was accused of extorting money from others.

Mr Ryan was also linked to the private security sector and in recent years had control of contracts for the supply of security staff to some pubs and clubs in Dublin.

He and his Real IRA associates had also become involved in feuding with a number of major crime gangs from the city from whom they were trying to extort money.

It is understood that Ryan visited Sligo on a number of occasions recently.