Police on guard at funeral for Giuseppe Focarelli, father of former bikie Vince Focarelli
- adelaidenow
- April 30, 2013
POLICE are
maintaining a "discreet" presence at the funeral of
former gang leader Vince Focarelli's flamboyant father,
Giuseppe, at a church in Adelaide's eastern suburbs.
A small contingent of officers are in the vicinity of the church in the event of any incident involving Focarelli - who was released from prison last week.
In a week of grief, Focarelli has visited the gravesite of his slain son for the first time and today, the underworld figure is farewelling his loyal father
Dozens of mourners have converged on the Catholic Our Lady Queen of Peace Church at Payneham to pay their last respects to Giuseppe Focarelli.
Mr Focarelli, who attended most court appearances while his son was in prison over drugs charges, died just two hours before his son was released on parole last week.
Vince Focarelli with his father Giuseppe in Hindley St in 2009. Giuseppe died last week and Vince will attend his funeral today.
Focarelli, 42, arrived at the church along with his lawyer, Steve Georgiades, dressed in a purple shirt and grey vest. He was wearing a black armband.
Focarelli walked straight into the church and ignored media cameras positioned on the side of the road.
Mr Focarelli senior was a renowned artist in his homeland of Italy where his works were exhibited in private and public collections.
They included a commissioned portrait of Pope John XXIII, which was displayed in the Vatican.
Vince Focarelli's father, Giuseppe, outside the District Court during a previous hearing.
A self-taught artist Mr Focarelli believed that art brought communities together and arrived in Australia with his family in 1980.
He was known for his flamboyant dress sense and previously posed for photographs with his infamous son outside his former tattoo parlour, Ink Central, on Hindley St.
Focarelli regularly displayed his various works of art at the parlour.
Absent from the funeral was Focarelli's close associate, Michael Sfyris, who remains in custody along with another friend, Fink bikie Dylan Jessen.
Vince Focarelli, his father Giuseppe and two acquaintances outside their former Hindley Street tattoo parlour in 2009.
After a court hearing last year, Mr Focarelli senior smiled appreciatively when complimented on his white pin-striped suit and tiger-print matching tie and hat.
Upon his release from prison last week, Focarelli prayed at the grave of his son Giovanni, who was gunned down in an ambush last January at Dry Creek in January last year.
Focarelli survived four gunshots in the incident - the sixth attempt on his life by rival gang members since 2009.
