Sutton community brought to a standstill by traveller funeral

6:00pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News

Crowds gather at the funeral of Thomas Mongan in Sutton Crowds gather at the funeral of Thomas Mongan in Sutton

HUNDREDS of mourners descended on a community for the funeral of a young traveller who was found dead at his home last month.

A convoy of vehicles rolled into Sutton on Tuesday morning as crowds gathered at St Anne’s and Blessed Dominic Church to remember Thomas Mongan, 26.

Mr Mongan was found dead at an address on Telford Drive, Sutton on December 23.

Monastery Lane and surrounding streets were lined with up to 60 vehicles, including cars and vans.

A substantial police presence was stationed in Sutton to monitor potential disruption.

Two horse-drawn carriages were followed by ten huge Hummer cars, large enough to accommodate at least 15 people, as they drove slowly through Sutton Village.

The size of the funeral and influx of visitors in large vehicles created tensions in the community.

Some neighbours, who asked not to be named, voiced concerns that they were asked to take their children into St Anne’s Primary School, on Monastery Lane, Sutton, earlier than normal on Tuesday morning.

It is believed that others chose to keep their children away from school altogether in the morning because of the event.

Others claimed that the volume of traffic on roads nearby the church could have prevented access if needed by the emergency services.

One resident said: “If there had been a fire at a house or at the primary school someone could have been killed.

“I asked a police officer what would happen if a fire broke out or someone had a heart attack and he replied: ‘Good question’.

Another was unhappy at the amount of police needed to monitor the funeral, adding: “People round here are saying enough is enough. Effectively we are paying to babysit them.”

Businesses, including some pubs in Sutton, kept their doors closed.

Following the service, the cortege went through St Helens and towards Warrington and later Preston for burial.

An inquest into Mr Mongan’s death will take place at a later date.

Comments(21)

Destiny Doves says...
6:31pm Tue 15 Jan 13

We were so pleased to attend the funeral of Thomas Mongan today. The children of the family released 28 white doves ,it was the biggest funeral we have ever done ,and the people were so loveley .There was no trouble just a large family fantastic service and dignified funeral.. so many people disrespect the travelling community all they did was say goodbye to one of their loved ones.

Report this post »

alfiej says...
7:44pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Seems you just cant please some people. If there wasnt a high police presence you would have had people saying the police wasn't doing enough. There are good and bad people in all walks of life, and in the travelling community Tom Mongan was one of the good ones. I live and work in Sutton and seen the funeral and thought it was lovely. The travellers should be proud of themselves. And yes I had travellers coming into the shop today but every single one of them was polite and respectful.

Report this post »

Fififlowerpot says...
9:36pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I have nothing against the travelling community, and I live in the area, have never come across an impolite traveller personally. However I can understand some people's frustrations, taking your child to a primary school whilst trying to explain why there are riot vans, unmarked security vehicles, police patrols etc etc and at the same time you are aware that the reason for the security issue is because there is a high amount of gun crime, feuding, violence, fighting and general trouble that seems to surround the travellers of both Sutton and parr, makes you feel a little uneasy and slightly irritated that the 'community came to a stand still' for some that very often bring the community to a stand still for a very different reason.

Report this post »

Gill body says...
10:58pm Tue 15 Jan 13

I have lived here next to this family for nearly ten years and they have proved themselfs to be only respectful and considerate to this neighbourhood, as have i. If I'm held up because of any funeral, especially a magnificent and beautiful procession, then I will wait respectfully as they pass. My deepest sympathy to all the family.

Report this post »

mysteryman1975 says...
11:45pm Tue 15 Jan 13

how much would this have cost the tax payer i wonder? normal people have funerals that are low key,these 'people' seem to enjoy causing havoc,traffic jams,and i don't see these travellers contributing to the government,

Report this post »

smith&weston says...
3:21am Wed 16 Jan 13

mysteryman1975 wrote:
how much would this have cost the tax payer i wonder? normal people have funerals that are low key,these 'people' seem to enjoy causing havoc,traffic jams,and i don't see these travellers contributing to the government,
Indeed. I despise these people and their hold over our community, a hold based on fear and intimidation.

Report this post »

MLHP says...
10:43am Wed 16 Jan 13

I have no problem with them holding a funeral, but the mess they leave behind (I am a resident of the estate behind the church) McDonald's wrappers, coffee cups from costa... That's not respectful in the slightest. Anther thing is that for those residents who own larger vehicles can't get in or out of the street, the road is used a pathway, to which the travellers think they own, they park all over the grass verges and tear up the grass, cause businesses to close pubs to shut up shop, traffic chaos, and nobody dare say anything due to the fear of immediate retribution. When myself and friends have held bike rallies in aid of help for heroes etc, the police have told us the event could not go ahead without a contribution from the organisers for the policing the of the event, yet these funeral get it all for free, and the get a hell of a lot too... Police Horses, numerous vans, endless foot patrols, considering they make no governmental contributions they should be made to keep things low key or pay out for the costs of policing it

Report this post »

mysteryman1975 says...
9:17pm Wed 16 Jan 13

gypo's get away with too much,scum of the earth,sorry but truth hurts some people,i agree with the last 2 messages (smith and weston and MLHP) i pay my taxes like a lot of people unlike gypo's,sooner we rid of these unwanted people then maybe the crime rate in st helens will drop,put them in Afghanistan and see how long they will last then? i would say they would be cowards then

Report this post »

babby123 says...
1:02am Thu 17 Jan 13

are u for real i am a gypo myself if thats what u like to call us do u not think that des people are going true anuff bsides the likes of u comeing on here giveing abuse i hope your the next to die and i hope u go to hell the world wood b a better place if it dedent have trash like u in it people like u are the bigest scum of all go get a life for your self and as for cowards mysteryman u dont even have a name

Report this post »

luciem says...
1:11pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Personally I Dont have a problem with the traveling community I understand people having opinions about the high level of policing and traffic in the area but doesn't any funeral cause a delay in traffic? And someone said if the police didn't man the procession people would have a moan about that aswel!!! Its rediculous I respect the "gypos" for time and effort they put into the funeral its called paying there respects to the young man who has lost his life!!! Some people need to learn how to respect instead of making insensitive comments!!!

Report this post »

kjd161 says...
1:38pm Thu 17 Jan 13

babby123 wrote:
are u for real i am a gypo myself if thats what u like to call us do u not think that des people are going true anuff bsides the likes of u comeing on here giveing abuse i hope your the next to die and i hope u go to hell the world wood b a better place if it dedent have trash like u in it people like u are the bigest scum of all go get a life for your self and as for cowards mysteryman u dont even have a name
So babby123 is your name then, is it? Judging by your mastery of the English language, you must still be in the babbies class.

Report this post »

kjd161 says...
1:39pm Thu 17 Jan 13

babbie's class.

Report this post »

mattmxl says...
1:55pm Thu 17 Jan 13

The stereotype has just been confirmed there! Say a bad word against them and they come out fighting and throwing insults. It tends to be the case that there's always a degree of truth behind a rumor, in the travelers case, it looks like 360º of truth.

Report this post »

babby123 says...
4:27pm Thu 17 Jan 13

kjd161 wrote:
babby123 wrote: are u for real i am a gypo myself if thats what u like to call us do u not think that des people are going true anuff bsides the likes of u comeing on here giveing abuse i hope your the next to die and i hope u go to hell the world wood b a better place if it dedent have trash like u in it people like u are the bigest scum of all go get a life for your self and as for cowards mysteryman u dont even have a name
So babby123 is your name then, is it? Judging by your mastery of the English language, you must still be in the babbies class.
unbelievable just unbelievable people like the people that come on here giveing bad comments are people that have noting better to do must have verry boring lifs sick twisted individvals should b ashamed of dearselfs a real waste of space cant even be bothered to comment on what da say anymore its like entertainment for dem dear that sick

Report this post »

smith&weston says...
4:46pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Don't you have any trees you could be cutting down and dumping in the public parks babby ?

Report this post »

frankly says...
11:01pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Are you Irish Babby,,,,its just that your writing ????????????????????
?????

Report this post »

mysteryman1975 says...
2:20pm Fri 18 Jan 13

well said smith and weston,i congratulate you from my heart
we can catch up for a pint in a gypo pub if you like? the white house maybe haha
sooner these gypos kill each other the better,

Report this post »

moonman77 says...
3:02pm Fri 18 Jan 13

It would be interesting if a long time resident of Sutton, who was planning a large funeral, would ask the police for the same level of cooperation as shown here to the travellers. I wonder what reaction they would get?

Report this post »

frankly says...
7:54pm Fri 18 Jan 13

None

Report this post »

derkdagger says...
8:57pm Fri 18 Jan 13

sadly St.Helens and in particular Sutton has been taken over by them,house prices around the junction area have plummeted,i know people who have had their houses up for sale for years and have not had 1 viewing.There good and bad in all sections of society,i know some very nice "travellers"but they are in the small minority,part of the blame though must go to the public who pay for work done by their so called tradesmen for roofing,fascias,tarm
ac and even tree fellers,if the general public did'nt give them the work they'd have to move on in search of work elsewhere

Report this post »

sherlock1 says...
3:04pm Sat 19 Jan 13

If these people call themselves travelers why do they stay in one place?

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree