A local IRA source pointed out areas of incompetence in the attack by the IRA unit involved that led to its destruction : During the funeral services for O'Donnell and O'Farrell in Coalisland , the parish priest criticised the security forces for what happened at Clonoe church , which had resulted in the deaths of the four IRA men . The priest , Fr . MacLarnon , then appealed to the IRA and Sinn Fein to replace " the politics of confrontation with the politics of cooperation " . While Francis Molloy , a local Sinn Féin councillor , walked out of the church in protest , leading Sinn Fein politicians Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness remained in their seats . There were hundreds of Royal Ulster Constabulary police officers outside the church during the funeral , the RUC having changed its policy after the recent Milltown Cemetery attack . This show of force was criticised by Sinn Fein
Milltown Cemetery attack
Milltown Cemetery attack
Clonoe ambush