Gangster known as ’Irish Pablo Escobar’ buried in gold-plated coffin with floral gun as loved ones say goodbye

One funeral tribute featured a Skorpion submachine gun

An Irish gangster has been laid to rest in a golden coffin with tributes calling him the "real Pablo".

Father-of-one and career criminal Stephen O’Reilly, who was in his 30s, died after a single-vehicle road crash in Offaly, Ireland on May 20.

A funeral Mass took place for Reilly at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Coosan

Stephen O’Reilly, who was in his 30s, died after a single-vehicle road crash

One tribute says: "The real Pablo... The one & only Gangster Reilly"Credit: Facebook

O’Reilly was considered one of the area’s most dangerous and violent criminals with connections to a Longford-based Organised Crime Gang (OCG), reports say.

He had several convictions under his belt for burglaries and was due before several courts accused of serious offences, according to the Irish Independent.

"He was an extremely violent individual," a source told the paper.

"From an early age, he got involved in burglaries in and around Athlone and was suspected of hiding firearms and drugs for a notorious midlands-based crime gang.”

Videos posted on social media show a group of six men and a woman carrying his golden coffin from a hearse as Tina Turner’s hit song ’Simply the Best’ plays in the background.

The coffin is then moved into a house through the window.

A funeral Mass took place for him at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Coosan, Athlone on May 25.

Images from the event show several tributes for the dead gangster, including one of a Skorpion submachine gun.

Beside the floral weapon is another tribute bearing the words, "My Brother Don Pablo... Familia Por Siempre (family forever)", making an apparent reference to Colombian druglord Pablo Escobar.

The comparison was also seemingly made in an image showing a shirtless O’Reilly performing a double bicep pose while ascending a stairway to heaven.

The picture says: "The real Pablo... The one & only Gangster Reilly."

Another pictorial tribute shows a box with white powder inside, with the words "No Comment" written underneath.

One showed a picture of a can of Red Bull, Tropical Edition, with the word "Son" written beneath.

Another tribute showed an early 2000s-style black mobile phone above the phrase "Uncle Reilly".

And one showed a bottle of black pepper, naming a police officer underneath.

The tribute reads: "Detective [redacted]... 0. Reilly 1".

A notice from Flynns Funeral Directors Athlone announced the gangster’s death.

A range of tributes for Reilly at his funeralCredit: Facebook

Reilly was taken home in a gold-coloured coffinCredit: Facebook

In a post on May 21, they wrote that he died "suddenly on Monday 20th May 2024".

They added: "We regret to inform you of the passing of Stephen (Reilly) O’Reilly... Athlone, Westmeath / Greystones, Dublin.

"Predeceased by his beloved brother James and his granddad Michael.

"Sadly missed by his loving fiancée Aoife, daughter Kayleigh, father Joe, mother Catherine, sister Michaela, Catriona and Shamini, best friends Mark, Eddie, Fidgy and Shannen and their children, relatives and many friends.

"May He Rest In Peace."

One mourner posted on Facebook: "What are we gonna do without you at all Reilly... I can’t believe I’m even writing this.

"I’m so so heartbroken over ya Reilly. It feels like a terrible dream it doesn’t feel real at all.

"Like why did God have to take you it really is true he definitely only takes the best. We are all in bits.

"I wish I could change this."

His fiancée Aoife posted a tribute to him online, writing: "We really were Bonnie and Clyde babe.

"All you wanted to do was come home.

"You were my husband and I was your wife.

"We’ve been through so much."

Dozens of mourners posted comments writing heartfelt messages or simply "RIP".

Sophia Martinez