Mourners gathered in west London for a two-day funeral service for Salis Hanrahan, a 20-year-old Irish traveller who was fatally shot in Philadelphia in July. Hanrahan died after a confrontation with a homeowner, identified as a 75-year-old Vietnam veteran and former firefighter, George Barr.
Reports indicate that Hanrahan was part of a construction crew working on Barr's home when he allegedly attempted to charge the homeowner approximately $51,800 (£40,000) for repairs on the property. Hanrahan collapsed on the pavement outside Barr's home in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia and later died in a hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Authorities stated that Hanrahan had entered the United States illegally and was denied an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) due to his affiliation with a group known as 'The Travelling Conman Fraud Group.' The FBI has designated this group as a transnational criminal organization known for overcharging clients for incomplete building work.
George Barr has been charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person. He has been remanded into custody and has not yet entered a plea.
The incident occurred on July 8. According to Philadelphia police, gunfire was heard as contractors were fitting sliding doors at Barr's residence. Witnesses reported hearing arguments or commotion inside the home before finding the homeowner outside.
Hanrahan's body was repatriated to London. The funeral procession in Hayes involved a fleet of luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis, which brought traffic to a standstill. Friends and family gathered for a service at St. Mary's Hayes Town, followed by a burial at West Drayton Cemetery.
Reports also noted that Hanrahan had married his wife, Roseann, months before his death, and they had a one-year-old daughter. A tribute was also held for what would have been Hanrahan's 21st birthday, marked by flares and gatherings.
