The father of hunger striker Joe McDonnell was buried on Christmas Eve following a service at St Teresa’s Church on the Glen Road.

Father-of-nine Robbie McDonnell was later laid to rest at Milltown Cemetery.

The popular West Belfast man died in hospital on December 22, surrounded by his family.

His IRA volunteer son Joe died in July 1981 after 61 days on hunger strike. He had been arrested alongside Bobby Sands and had been serving a 14-year prison sentence at the time of his death.

Prominent republicans were among the large crowd of mourners at Robbie McDonnell’s funeral last Wednesday.

Sinn Féin MLA Paul Maskey paid tribute to the respected West Belfast man.

He said: “Robbie was the father of a hunger striker and a well known character throughout West Belfast. 

“He will be sorely missed, and that showed by the large number of people at his funeral.”