Fr John Nevin has told mourners at the funeral of murder victim Kevin McGuigan that violence "does not solve problems but creates more".
Several hundred family and friends of the 53-year-old gathered for his funeral yesterday almost a week after he was gunned down in front of his wife Dolores.
They clapped and cheered as his funeral cortège made its way through the Short Strand, in what they said was a celebration of his life. One of his young grandson's walked in front of the coffin.
Prior to this relatives held a short prayer and hymn service outside the Comber Court home where he was shot dead on Wednesday evening.
There was a heavy police presence in the Short Strand prior to the funeral with police also positioned at the Lower Newtownards Road at the junction with Bryson Street where a small crowd of loyalists had gathered.
The father of nine was shot by two masked men in what was suspected to be in retaliation for the murder of former IRA commander Gerard 'Jock ' Davison in May of this year.
Four people were arrested yesterday in connection with the killing and two guns recovered by detectives.
Addressing the mourners Fr Nevin said: "Violence does not solve problems. Violence, war and revenge does not solve problems but creates more. The circle goes on."
"There is a lot of love, gratitude and appreciation for all the good that Kevin did in life.
"The media - the mistakes that people make are highlighted in the media. The good that people do is often buried with their bones."
The priest said the victim's wife Dolores had asked him why this had happened to her family.
"I have no answers for these tragedies that wreck families," he added.
Sinn Féin former lord mayor of Belfast Niall ÓDonnghaile, who is from the Short Strand district, was among the mourners, He was the only high profile member of the party present.
It is believed that former associates of Jock Davison carried out the killing of Mr McGuigan. However, Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey has denied that the IRA were involved.
As the cortège left St Matthew's Church Mr McGuigan's widow Dolores and a number of his son's helped carry the coffin which was draped in a tricolour.
A helicopter hoovered over City Cemetery in west Belfast as Mr McGuigan was laid to rest, his family sang songs at the graveside.
