‘Big Jim’ O’Reilly gets fitting send-off from his comrades

THE guard of honour that escorted the remains of ‘Big Jim’ O’Reilly on his final journey through West Belfast this week was made up of republican former POWS, friends and comrades of the big man, who died on Sunday 23 March.

A former POW, Jim died of cancer, a disease he had been fighting with over the past while.

As his coffin – draped with the national flag and the gloves and beret of an IRA Volunteer – was carried from the Twinbrook home he shared with his partner Marguerite, hundreds of mourners waited in the rain.

Among them were senior republicans Gerry Kelly, Sue Ramsey, Seán Murray, West Belfast MP Paul Maskey and Bobby Storey as well Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane and MLA Pat Sheehan.

Other comrades of Jim’s from the H-Blocks travelled into Belfast from across the North, indicating the esteem in which he was held.

Jim’s remains were brought through Twinbrook before his being taken to his native Falls Road by horse-drawn carriage.

A wreath was laid in his honour at the Lower Falls Garden of Remembrance.

At the International Wall, the flag, gloves and beret were removed from the coffin and presented to his daughter Theresa.

Jim was cremated at Roselawn Crematorium.

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