Funeral for Ned Kelly held after 132 years
Hundreds of Ned Kelly's descendants and supporters have attended a memorial service in Australia.
AUSTRALIA: Family attended a memorial service for the outlaw 132 years after he was hanged for killing three police officers. Hundreds of Ned Kelly's descendants and supporters attended a memorial service to say farewell to the controversial outlaw.
Some 132 years after he was hanged, mourners gathered at St Patrick's Church in the small town of Wangaratta, Victoria state, included Kelly's great-grand-niece Joanne Griffiths and great-grand-nephew Anthony Griffiths.
It was Kelly's dying wish that he would be given a traditional Catholic service. His remains, minus his missing skull, will be buried over the weekend.
Mr Griffiths said: "It's not about glorifying anything he did or didn't do. It's simply about a family funeral. It does give a real sense of closure to a lot of family members."
Kelly's memory still divides Australia, with some believing he was a cold-blooded killer, while others see him as a folk hero and symbol of Irish-Australian defiance against British colonial authorities.
