Facebook has apologised to the family of Italy’s Mafia "boss of bosses" after it removed messages of condolences following his death, aged 87.

The social media giant said comments posted to the profile of Salvatore 'Toto' Riina's son-in-law were removed in error.

A spokeswoman for the website said the comments were restored after a review was sparked by user's complaints. It then issued an apology for the error.

It comes as the remains of Riina, who was serving 26 life sentences, arrived in Sicily on Wednesday from Parma.

The man, who is thought to have ordered the murder of more than 150 people, was buried in a private ceremony in Corleone, a town made famous by the Godfather films.


Riina, who was nicknamed The Beast, was laid to rest in a family tomb near the graves of other notable mobster figures.

Image: Salvatore 'Toto' Riina during his 1993 trial

He reportedly died after battling cancer and being placed in a medically induced coma.

His coffin was covered white flowers and was blessed by a priest as mourners including his wife and three of his four children watched on, according to Italian media.

Riina's son Giovanni was unable to attend as he is in jail for four murders and was not given permission to leave.

The church refused Riina a public funeral after he led a reign of terror for almost 20 years. It is thought he continued ordering hits from inside prison.

Mafia experts have now warned of a power struggle within the group.

:: Mafia 'boss of bosses' dies in Italian prisoners' hospital

Metres from Riina's resting place lies Bernardo 'The Tractor' Provenzano, who was known for the way he mowed his victims down. Luciano Leggio, a mentor to Riina, is also buried nearby.

The Mafia boss was born to a poor farmer in Corleone in 1930 and killed his first victim when he was 19 in order to join his local Mafia ring.

He worked his way up from the lower ranks as a foot soldier under Leggio. He was later arrested in 1969 and tried on several murder charges but freed due to jury intimidation.

Riina went on the run in the same year and went on to lead the Mafia while in hiding. He was later captured in 1993 and sentenced to 26 life sentences.