The funeral of a British man shot dead in the United States brought traffic to a standstill in west London as hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects. Salis Hanrahan, 20, was killed in Philadelphia on July 8 during a confrontation at a house undergoing renovation.
Mourners line streets for funeral procession
The funeral took place at St Mary the Virgin church in Hayes on Monday, following the repatriation of Hanrahan's body. A horse-drawn carriage carried his coffin, leading a long procession of cars, including Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis, that snaked through the neighbourhood.
Police closed roads as hundreds arrived for the midday Catholic service. Many vehicles displayed posters of Hanrahan on their windshields. Huge floral tributes accompanied the coffin, which family members carried into the church.
One mourner said: “We are showing solidarity as a traveller community today. He was so young and will be so missed by many.” Another ceremony was held earlier in Braintree, Essex, where Hanrahan also had connections.
Community reaction and impact
Young and old stood shoulder to shoulder, lining the streets. Not all attendees were from the traveller community; some were curious onlookers. Parveen, 28, who lives near the church, said: “I have never seen a funeral like this. It has caused chaos and I can’t get my car out, but this is a funeral and everybody needs to be respectful.”
Hanrahan's death has made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. Witnesses told NBC that they heard an argument inside the home before Hanrahan staggered outside and collapsed with a fatal chest wound. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
Arrest and charges
Police arrested the home's owner, 75-year-old George Barr, who was initially charged with first-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. The charge was later downgraded to third-degree murder. A neighbour described Barr as a retired firefighter and veteran.
Erin Kelly told the outlet: “It’s just crazy that it happened here. It’s always quiet here, so for something to happen like this, it just shocked us all.”
Illegal entry and alleged criminal ties
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Hanrahan was from the UK and had entered the US illegally. They added that Hanrahan was affiliated with an international criminal network known as ‘The Travelling Conman Fraud Group’. The group, made up of UK and Irish nationals, illegally entered the US to participate in a construction and money laundering fraud scheme, according to officials. Hanrahan's family deny his involvement in the group.
