The Funeral and Burial of Aidan McAnespie

Aidan’s funeral took place on Tuesday 23rd February 1988. His funeral was attended by hundreds of family, friends and political representatives from both sides of the border.

Upon hearing the death of Aidan, the Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh at the time, Cardinal Tomas O’Fiaich cut short his trip in New York, USA and travelled specifically to Aughnacloy to co-officiate the funeral ceremony alongside Aghaloo parish priest Fr Seamus McManus.

Aidan’s funeral took place at St Mary’s Church, Aughnacloy. He was then buried across the border at St Patrick’s Church, Clara, Co Monaghan.

Funeral of Aidan McAnespie, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone (23 February 1988)

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After the funeral service, the procession left St Mary’s Church and made its way along Moore Street, down the Monaghan Road and then through the British army checkpoint – retracing the exact route that Aidan made on his way to Aghaloo GFC that fateful day. Mourners paused at the spot where Aidan died before crossing the River Blackwater and border and making its way to Aidan’s final resting place in Clara.

*The funeral procession makes its way to St Mary’s Church, Aughnacloy.*

*The cortege passes through the checkpoint and past the sanger where British soldier David Holden fired the GPMG that struck Aidan.*

*A single black flag marks the spot where Aidan was shot and ultimately died.*

*Aidan’s grief-stricken parents John and Lizzie McAnespie.*

*John and Lizzie McAnespie pictured at Aidan’s grave at St Patrick’s Church, Clara.*

Second Autopsy

Four days after Aidan’s burial on 23rd February 1988, Aidan’s grave was exhumed after a request by the McAnespie family to Irish deputy police commissioner Eugene Crowley and Irish Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

Aidan was taken to Monaghan General Hospital where the autopsy was conducted by Irish state pathologist Dr John Harbison alongside Dr Brendan McDonald. A Gardai officer was placed at the cordoned-off grave overnight until Aidan was later re-interred a few hours later.

*Aidan’s coffin is reinterred following a second autopsy by Irish state pathologist Dr John Harbison.*

It was during the second autopsy that it was discovered that part of Aidan’s ribcage had been removed and not replaced.

Dr Brendan McDonald gives his account on discovering part of Aidan’s ribcage had been removed.

The preliminary investigation pointed to the conclusion that the entry and exit wounds did not correspond to those of a ‘ricochet’.