THE remains of Garda killer Adrian Crevan Mackin have been secretly taken from a hospital morgue for a low-key funeral in his native Co Down.
Mackin’s body had lain unclaimed in the morgue of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda as the families of both his victims received outpourings of support from both sides of the border.
However, sources confirmed on Thursday night the murderer's remains had been taken from the hospital and quietly brought to Newry by a local funeral director.
A no-fuss funeral, out of the glare of the media, is expected to take place within days.
His parents, who had been victims of his temper, emigrated to Australia a decade ago and are not expected to return to Ireland for his funeral.
In contrast, the State funeral of Garda Tony Golden witnessed a massive display of solidarity in Dundalk on Thursday.
Thousands of mourners from across Ireland, including President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny, thronged Blackrock, Co Louth, to pay their respects to father-of-three.
Up to 4,000 serving and retired Gardai attended the funeral, including an estimated 2,000 in uniform.
PSNI chief constable George Hamilton and Justice minister David Ford were also among the congregation.
Garda Golden was remembered as a happy man, proud to serve, a role model for the community - and by his brother Patrick as a "big gentle giant".
Mackin (25), whose violent history goes back to his youth, shot dead Garda Golden on Sunday and critically wounded his Newry-born partner Siobhan Phillips (21), shooting her in the head at their home in Omeath, Co Louth, on Sunday. She remains critically ill in hospital.
Sources revealed that a number of undertakers in Newry were contacted on Tuesday by individuals who had no family-link to Mackin but who wanted to make arrangements for his funeral.
Mackin’s associates spoke to several undertakers before finding one willing to handle the killer’s remains.