THOUSANDS of mourners attended the funeral of Captain Andreas Ioannides, Commander of the Cyprus Navy at Ayia Arsenios church in Limassol yesterday, amid calls for his ‘murderers’ to be brought to justice.
Police cordoned off roads and stationed patrol cars, motorbikes and uniformed officers at nearby roundabouts on the highway, to help keep order.
Amid searing temperatures hundreds upon hundreds of people crowded into the church which eventually had to be guarded by a line of soldiers , as it was impossible to allow anyone else inside.
This didn’t deter the public though, who flowed out onto the churches steps, surrounding car parks and the approach road.
The mood was that of shock, grief, disbelief and anger at the governments handling of the tragic incident, with many calling for those accountable to be brought to justice.
The dead man’s father spoke to mourners saying that at the last minute he had decided to share his son’s disappointment in the National Guard. .
“I wasn’t going to say anything but finally I decided to speak of my son’s feelings towards the army. He was very disappointed with them.”
The liturgy was delivered to those outside via loudspeakers and the crowd was made up of members of parliament, government officials, high ranking representatives of the armed forces from Cyprus, Greece and Germany – soldiers, sailors, police chiefs, relatives and friends of the victim and members of the general public.
Ioannides, hailed as a hero, was referred to as a man with ‘strong family values who was highly respected as the commander of the Cypriot navy and held his position with a great love for his county.’
Thousands of wreaths were brought or delivered to the church and much of the crowd was in tears. Emotions ran high as a members of ruling AKEL, laid their wreaths with many mourners shouting: ‘Murderers. Shame on you’.
After an appeal to allow the funeral to go ahead in a dignified manner, the atmosphere became calmer.
But applause rang out among the waiting crowds when Ioannides father and son both addressed the mourners.
The dead mans son Nikolas said his father’s death was a ‘murder’ which could have been avoided and that those responsible should be held fully accountable and punished accordingly.
He said that the manner of his father’s death and determination to ensure the base was cleared of personnel before he would attempt to leave was not what made him a hero because “he was already a hero”.
He added that those responsible had prevented him from ever embracing his father again. He said that the people must take to the streets to demonstrate to show the depth of their feelings.
Outside, mourners discussed the tragedy, most with intense anger.
A group of naval officers and soldiers were overhead saying that it was a terribly sad day and that they no longer had any trust in the forces; ‘They can’t even offer us protection during peace time,” one said.
Ioannides casket was carried out of the church by naval officers who also flanked each side of the church steps in a guard of honour, which reduced most of the waiting crowds to tears.
