PORTADOWN. Northern Ireland. Dec 31: Security was tight across Northern Ireland on Tuesday as both the Catholic and Protestant communities staged funerals for two men killed in a fresh outbreak of political violence, reports Reuter.

Hundreds of police and soldiers were on standby for a ma-{'or operation in the town of ’ortadown for the funeral of ruthless protestant guerilla chief Billy Wright, who was gunned down by Republican inmates inside the top security maze jail on Saturday.

The centre of staunchly protestant Portadown was at a complete standstill after shopkeepers received written notes ■ from suspected protestant "loyalists" urging them to close as a mark of respect for the dead । man.

Community leaders said they saw this as an Implied threat from Wright's supporters. ।