MOURNERS lined the streets of Bess-brook yesterday for the funeral of pensioner Oswald Bradley who died while trying to swim across a pond to replace Irish tricolours with a Union flag.
Some businesses along Main Street in the Co Armagh village pulled down their shutters as the cortege passed.
The 68-year-old father-of-two, pictured, died on Monday as he attempted to swim across Bessbrook Pond.
The widower was trying to make his way to an island to remove two flags from trees when he got into difficulties at about 5pm.
He was pulled from the water and attempts were made to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead later.
Yesterday a large crowd of mourners gathered outside Mr Bradley's family home on Main Street shortly before noon to pay their final respects.
His family were joined in the house by the Rev Brian Colvin, minister of Downshire Road Presbyterian Church, for a private service before Mr Bradley's remains were carried to the cemetery adjoining the nearby Bessbrook Presbyterian Church.
Police officers diverting traffic saluted the cortege.
At the cemetery Mr Colvin led those gathered in prayer for Mr Bradley, a former business owner who later worked as a painter and decorator.
Mr Bradley was "well-loved and well-respected by the people of Bessbrook", Mr Colvin said.
He said the pensioner, whose wife Violet died 11 years ago, was a "kind-hearted man who often went out of his way to help others".
UUP MLA Danny Kennedy was among those who attended the funeral for Mr Bradley who was a member of the victims campaign group Fair and whose cousin was killed in the Kingsmills massacre.
Mr Bradley also had close links with the families of some of the other victims, including Jean Lemmon (91) whose husband was one of the 10 Protestant workmen murdered in the 1976 IRA atrocity.
Mrs Lemmon also attended the service.
Other mourners included Mr Bradley's close friend Alan Black, the only survivor of the Kingsmill massacre, and high-profile loyalist victims campaigner Willie Frazer.