Dunne funeral: Frankie's 'spirit is free because he loved and is loved'
Fr Gregory Howard, the parish priest of Knocknaheeny, said in his homily that 'our concern and our prayers are with those who have been robbed of their loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Mourners at the funeral of murder victim Francis 'Frankie' Dunne have been told that 'although Frankie’s remains lie before us in death, his spirit is free because he loved and is loved'.
His funeral Mass is taking place at St Mary’s on the Hill church in Knocknaheeny before Mr Dunne is buried at St Michael’s Cemetery in Blackrock.
The 64-year-old’s partially dismembered body was found in the garden of Castlegreina House on Boreenmanna Rd at the end of last month.
Father Gregory Howard, the parish priest of Knocknaheeny, said in his homily that 'our concern and our prayers are with those who have been robbed of their loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
"We journey as companions with Frankie’s family in your pain," he said. "Many people have done so generously and magnanimously this past week."
Fr Howard said Frankie’s family are grateful for the outpouring of sympathy, prayer and practical support they have received.
"You, the family, described him to me as a person who possessed an inquisitive mind," he said. "Frankie, like all of humankind, suffered from his own demons. He tried many, many times to overcome them.
"But is it not true, that a person’s weakness draws out goodness from others. It is said that adversity brings out the best in people and affluence brings out the worst."
He also highlighted the help Mr Dunne had received during his life.
"Many people reached out to Frankie - his family, his friends and the staff and residents of Clanmornin House, Boreenmanna Road, as well as the countless and unknown people who were kind to him," Fr Howard said.
"Expressions of thanks must be given to the Simon Community who give shelter and refuge to Frankie and to many, many people without houses.
"Finally, the greatest lesson of all is this. The next homeless person we meet, we might treat them with a little more sympathy and kindness. For whatever we do to the least of our sisters and brothers, we do it to Jesus."
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