Thousands of mourners lined the streets on Wednesday for the funeral of a Catholic youth worker shot dead by Loyalist gunmen during the latest violence in Northern Ireland.

The funeral of Terry Enwright, who was shot dead outside a nightclub by the Loyalist terrorist group, the Loyalist Volunteer Force, on Saturday, took place in West Belfast.

Mr Enwright, 28, was married to a niece of the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

Terry Enwright was murdered by the Loyalist Volunteer Force

The LVF said it killed him as further revenge for the murder of its leader Billy Wright in the Maze prison.

Mr Enwright's youth and community work, and personality drew praise from across the divide in Northern Ireland.

Hundreds of people, many children, joined the funeral cortege along the route from Mr Enwright's home to Holy Trinity Church in West Belfast.

Hundreds of children joined the funeral cortege

Children lined the route, many bearing banners paying tribute to Mr Enwright, who worked for many cross-community projects in the city.

Members of a Gaelic athletic club escorted the coffin, which was followed by Mr Enwright's wife, two daughters, and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams.

Gerry Adams paid his repects

Mr Adams spoke at the funeral, describing him as "an extraordinary human being".

The Catholic bishop of Down and Connor the Most Rev Patrick Walsh told mourners that the death of Mr Enwright, who was born at the outbreak of Ulster's Troubles, had united the community at a "crucial" time.

The murder of the popular youth worker had brought Catholics and Protestants together "in shared grief", he said.

There have been more than 3,000 deaths in Northern Ireland since the troubles started.

The murder of Terry Enwright has, however, touched a particular chord because of who he was and also because it affected families of those involved in the multi-party talks.
 

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