Threats at Bandido funeral for Ross brand

SEVERAL hundred Bandidos bikies from across Australia farewelled murdered comrade Ross Brand during a tense ceremony today.

SEVERAL hundred Bandidos bikies from across Australia farewelled murdered comrade Ross Brand during a tense ceremony today.

Members of the media were cordoned off from the funeral precinct, with one television crew chased by members of the Bandidos gang when they moved out of the media area.

A crowd of about 500 Bandidos and their associates from the Geelong and interstate chapters crowded into the Tuckers Funeral Home with many forced to stand outside due to lack of space.

Many were dressed in leathers and the ubiquitous black and orange club T-shirts, while female mourners dressed up for the occasion, some wearing hats.

Some Bandidos supporters not yet fully badged patrolled the funeral area, making the final farewell limited to those involved in the Bandidos movement.

Earlier, the members gathered with Mr Brand's family and friends outside the Bandidos clubhouse before escorting the coffin several kilometres through the streets of Geelong to the funeral home.

After the service, the members rode their Harley-Davidsons in convoy to the Geelong Eastern Cemetery.

A heavy police presence lined the procession route to keep members of the public and media at a distance.

Brand, a senior Bandidos member with a long criminal record, died in hospital after being gunned down while leaving the gang's clubhouse with three other men last week.

A volley of shots was fired from a white twin-cab ute parked outside the clubhouse in an industrial area of suburban Breakwater.

Brand, 51, had convictions for violence, firearms and weapons offences.

The Bandidos Geelong chapter has set up a trust fund for his sons, Floyd and Elvis.