ANDREW HANLON, the 20-year-old Irishman shot dead by a police officer in the US on July 1st, was a gentle, thoughtful young man whose death has left family and friends on both sides of the Atlantic broken-hearted, Mr Hanlon's funeral Mass was told yesterday.
Speaking at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saggart, Co Dublin, Mr Hanlon's stepfather, Justin Carroll, said the last three weeks since the killing had been "a nightmare".
Mr Carroll said he and Mr Hanlon's mother, Dorothea, had travelled to Silverton and found that community "every bit as heartbroken as we are here", following the shooting.
Mr Hanlon was shot, allegedly seven times, by a police officer who was responding to reports of an intruder at a house near that of Mr Hanlon's sister, Melanie.
Friends and family claim that Mr Hanlon was looking for his sister's house at the time of the shooting.
In his eulogy, Mr Carroll said Mr Hanlon had obviously touched the lives of those in Silverton as much as at home in Ireland. "People, strangers were crying their hearts out. He was loved as much there as here," he said.
Mr Carroll paid tribute to "a son, a grandson, a nephew who was just trying to spread his wings", and a young man who was "genuine and kind, almost naive".
Friends and family young and old had spoken of long, in-depth conversations with Mr Hanlon, of the young man's good looks and his ability to bring people together. "Andrew touched the lives of everyone, his life was short but full of love," Mr Carroll said in conclusion.
Fr Michael Shorthall, who officiated at the funeral Mass, said it was a "sad day, after so many sad days", and that the congregation had gathered to put the deceased "in God's care".
He offered condolences to the principal mourners - Dorothea, Mr Hanlon's sisters Mary Kate and Danielle, and brother Eamon, as well as sister Melanie who remained in the US.
Fr Shorthall recalled Mr Hanlon's love of art, sculpture and dog shows and suggested mourners' memories of these things would allow Mr Hanlon "to continue" in their lives.
"God will continually give AJ to you," he said.
The congregation sang the Ave Mariaas items of Mr Hanlon's clothing and writing were brought to the altar as gifts during the Offertory.
A family friend, Karl Deegan, read from the Book of Ecclesiastes: "There is a season . . .", while Mary Kate read The Lord is my Shepherd.
An investigation into the killing of Mr Hanlon is ongoing in the US. The police officer involved in the shooting, Tony Gonzalez, has since been arrested on non-related charges.
