An undertaker has revealed Johnny Depp carried Shane MacGowan’s coffin despite reluctance from security officers – and says he has no regrets about the last minute decision. 

Tipperary undertaker Philly Ryan says he invited the late singer’s celebrity friend to perform the honour at St Mary of the Rosary Church, but admitted it was never part of the plan.

Photographs show the Pirates of the Caribbean star, 60, among other pallbearers carrying the wicker casket out of the church as mourners watch on.

‘When I saw the pride on his face as he carried Shane down the church, I knew I’d made the right decision,’ Ryan, MacGowan’s close friend, said.

‘Johnny deserved to carry Shane’s coffin. He was his best man. He was there for the right reasons,’ Ryan told the Irish Sun.

But the decision was met with resistance, with Ryan revealing: ‘A security man rushed over and said “Johnny! This is not in the plan!” But Johnny told the security guy, “No, I’m going to do this”.’

The undertaker spoke out as a priest blasted the star-studded funeral as a ‘scandal’, saying the inclusion of The Pogues’ 1988 festive classic Fairytale of New York was ‘totally out of place’.

An undertaker has revealed Johnny Depp carried Shane MacGowan’s coffin despite reluctance from security officers

Johnny Depp carries his friend’s coffin at the funeral at St Mary’s Church, Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Celebrity Johnny Depp (centre) among the pallbearers carrying the wicker casket

It wasn’t part of the original plan to have Depp involved as a pallbearer

MacGowan had battled with a brain condition, with his wife Victoria sharing a photo of him in his hospital bed

‘The words that are used in that song and in the church showed no understanding of the sacredness of what the place is and the holiness of the mass,’ parish priest of the Corpus Christi parish in West Belfast Fr Paddy McCafferty told Belfast Live.

‘It was completely inappropriate to say the least, to the point of scandal and something needs to be done about these so-called celebrity funerals in a Catholic church.

‘We’re not there to entertain, we’re there to celebrate the worship of God and lead people in the worship of God. I wouldn’t allow that in my church.’

MacGowan, who died following a battle with pneumonia, is most well-known for the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York, which is expected to reach number one in the charts over the festive period.

Priest Fr Paddy McCafferty blasted the star-studded funeral as a ‘scandal,’ saying the inclusion of The Pogues’ 1998 festive classic Fairytale of New York was ‘totally out of place’

The Irish singer had been discharged from hospital over a week before after undergoing treatment for viral encephalitis, a condition in which swelling develops on the brain.

His funeral was held on December 8.

The service in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, was well-attended by celebrities including Nick Cave and Bob Geldof.

Depp was joined by Liam O’Maonlai, frontman of Irish band Hothouse Flowers, as they read the prayers of the faithful during the service.

During the service, Depp paused for an emotional moment as he touched the coffin of his friend and Pogues singer.

MacGowan’s coffin was brought to the front of the church draped in an Irish tricolour flag and placed close to a large black and white photograph of him.

Later, a group of men, including Depp, helped carry MacGowan’s coffin out of the service to huge applause.