By Eugene Moloney
Monday December 18 2006
THE funeral today of murdered gangland boss Martin Hyland is expected to attract the biggest crowd of mourners of any criminal figure since the 1994 service for Martin 'The General' Cahill.
In addition to the murdered drug dealer's immediate family, several hundred mourners, among them prominent figures from the Dublin underworld, are expected to flock to the Church of Christ the King in Cabra, both for his removal this evening at 5pm and his funeral Mass tomorrow morning at 10am.Low-key
Uniformed gardai are expected to adopt a low-key presence, but numerous plain clothes detectives will also attend.
This will give garda surveillance teams a chance to observe which criminals turn up to say goodbye to Hyland, one of seven children, who was born in Cabra in north Dublin in 1967.
In a death notice in newspapers today, Hyland's family have requested that only family flowers be sent.
The notice suggests that donations be made to Temple Street Children's Hospital.
Meanwhile, the funeral of apprentice plumber Anthony Campbell (20), the innocent man who was gunned down by Hyland's killers, takes place on Wednesday.
His mother and father Christine and Noel, stepmother Edel, brothers Travis and Noel and sister Ami are expected to be among a large crowd of mourners who will gather for his removal from Massey Brothers Funeral Home in Thomas Street to John's Lane Church for 6pm tomorrow, and funeral Mass at 10am on Wednesday.
He will be buried later at Newland's Cross Cemetery.
Hyland would have been just short of his 27th birthday when Cahill was gunned down.
At that time, Hyland was linked to Finglas drug dealer PJ Judge, also known as The Psycho, who was himself shot dead. Cahill's funeral featured a fleet of black limousines. Reports put the figure at up to 10.
At his funeral Mass, three priests officiated as family, friends, criminals and the simply curious packed into the Rathmines Church of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners.
Twelve years after the ruthless killing of Cahill, florists are again reporting brisk trade, with numerous orders for expensive wreaths for the funeral of Hyland.
Gardai were last night revealing none of the security measures that will be in place for the funeral.
Discreet
Although they will certainly discreetly photograph many of those attending, a garda spokesman would only say last night: "Obviously, we will have a presence."
It is understood some of the dead man's closest associates will act as stewards at the funeral.
While the gardai and the media will be watching to see whether individuals such as Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland or Dessie O'Hare turn up, associates of the late crime boss will also be on the look-out for unwelcome members of rival gangs whose very presence at Hyland's funeral may be deemed unwelcome.
- Eugene Moloney
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