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'Paralysed with grief, we have lost one of God's finest creatures' - funeral of Captain Mark Duffy takes place

The funeral service for the Coast Guard helicopter pilot took place this morning in his hometown of Blackrock, Co Louth.

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THE FUNERAL SERVICE for Captain Mark Duffy, who lost his life in the crash of Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 two weeks ago, has heard his loss is not one which his community can easily bear.

The service, which took place at St Oliver Plunkett Church in Mark’s hometown of Blackrock, north Louth, was attended by several hundred mourners, including countless representatives of the Coast Guard and other branches of the emergency services.

Celebrated by Mark’s uncle, the Reverend Stephen Duffy, the funeral was sombre and deeply affecting.

BLACKROCK FUNERALS 758A6705_90507175 The coffin of Captain Mark Duffy arriving at St Oliver Plunkett Church in Blackrock, Co Louth, this morning Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

Attended by President Michael D Higgins, the service saw Mark’s coffin, closely followed by his wife of 17 years Hermione and children Esmé and Fionn, brought to the church in a slow march, before a lone piper led the way to the service proper.

“The hearts of us all are heavy today, heavy and sad because one of our finest and best people has been taken away from us,” Stephen Duffy said in his homily.

When a tragedy such as this occurs, our hearts become paralysed in shared grief and shared loss. This is one of those occasions when words are not only inadequate but well-nigh useless.

He said that learning of Mark’s death made him understand, perhaps for the first time, what Jesus meant when he said: “My God, why have you forsaken us?”.

mark d Captain Mark Duffy

It seemed so unfair that while the rest of us were left untouched a young man such as Mark - happy, generous to a fault, innocent of heart and soul, beloved of his wife and children and family and all of us, should have been so tragically removed from among us.

“Mark was one of God’s finest creatures, my best friend… kindly, humble in spirit, pure of heart, peace-loving, good-natured, loving and lovable,” he said.

Guard of honour

A guard of honour was formed by Mark’s colleagues in the Coast Guard outside the church entrance.

Those gathered varied in countenance – some were stoic, some blank, some visibly upset.

Prayers were offered repeatedly for the families of the two crew members of the stricken helicopter – winchmen Ciaran Smith and Paul Ormsby – who remain missing.

Symbols were placed prior to the service in Captain Duffy’s memory – a rugby ball, his pilot’s helmet, the three rings he gave to his wife on her 40th birthday. Mark’s brother Gavan, audibly upset, gave the first reading.

Following communion, a heartbreaking rendition of the Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses was sung. Mark had been a huge music fan:

No sweeping exit or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn’t drag me away

Click here to view this video

The two eulogies were given by friends of Mark – Ed Shivnen, a colleague in the Coast Guard, and Declan Whelan, a member of An Garda Síochána.

Both men gave the impression of a man who was universally loved. With a silly side but possessing steely determination. Mark Duffy loved his family and his life by the sea in Blackrock, they said. The only love he had that came close was his love for flying “that helicopter”.

‘My heart is broken’

Whelan read a short tribute from Mark’s wife Hermione.

“We were together 26 years, I remember you asking me out, you were Mr Cool and me, I was so chuffed,” she said.

We did everything as a team. You’d come home to me and you’d say ‘Hermione I love getting home to you and the kids, but God do I love flying that helicopter’.
You were fearless, you knew something on everything, from music to flying, nature to history. You were always looking for answers.
We danced, we laughed, we sang, and we loved. I could write Mark’s life in a song.
Living here by the sea was absolute contentment for him. All he wanted was to raise our children to adulthood so that we could then have a little more time together. We spoke of the dangers of his job and what would happen should it come to the worst. He told me, if it came to it, he knew I could do it. My heart is broken.

“You were our charming, handsome, and funny hero. Guess how much I love you. I love you to the moon and back.”

Read: ‘Captain, colleague, daughter, sister, mum, friend and hero’ – Captain Dara Fitzpatrick is laid to rest

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9 Comments
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    Mute All Hail Bukowski
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    May 1st 2017, 1:07 PM

    Cue victim blaming brigade and more waffle about how cyclists are the cause of or contributors to their own death. 6 people who ride bikes, 6 father, mothers, grandparents, children killed so far this year. This compares to 10 for the whole of last year. Driver education and safer riding environment are needed. The latter would benefit all including pedestrians and city residents. Very sad statistics.

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    Mute Mr. G
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    May 1st 2017, 1:52 PM

    Should everyone blame the lorry driver instead?? We are all responsible for our actions on yhe roads. The roads are shared but you must keep in mind that it would be easier for the cyclist to see the lorry than the lorry driver see the cyclist. Theres alot to be said for common sense. I certainly wouldn’t like to be in that lorry drivers shoes. Its alot to carry for the rest of your life. Regards to the lorry driver and the cyclists family.

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    Mute Terry McSweeney
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    May 1st 2017, 1:59 PM

    @All Hail Bukowski: most drivers dont cycle and most cyclists dont drive so neither has an appreciation of the difficulties of the other and hence everyone thinks they are right.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    May 1st 2017, 2:10 PM

    @Terry McSweeney: while a lot of motorists don’t cycle, most cyclists do drive. Some motorists cocooned in their cars have no idea what’s going on around them.

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    Mute prop joe
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    May 1st 2017, 2:12 PM

    @Mr. G: yes. People turn left and don’t look up. Watch out you could kill someone.

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    Mute Brian O'Loughlin
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    May 1st 2017, 2:21 PM

    I think everyone should be made cycle in Dublin at least once to appreciate what cyclists have to deal with every day. Are they all angels? Of course not but at the end of the day they’re vulnerable road users.

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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    May 1st 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Mr. G: the compete blame lies with the officials who have failed time and time again to provide a safe environment for the massive numbers of people who choose to cycle in the city. Like the incident in templeogue, the truck drivers (while more than likely racked with guilt) did not drive in a way that is safe for other road users and failed to show caution for the absolutely rubbish cycle paths that councils think is sufficient to meet some performance indicator. I accept that the normal empathetic response is to absolve the drivers, but like speeding and drink drivers, they are in command of giant machines that can kill people if not operated correctly, as happened here.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    May 1st 2017, 3:39 PM

    @Brian O’Loughlin: was thinking about this earlier. Great idea. Should form part of learning to drive to go through the experience of another road user. As a cyclist I am more aware of what is going around me when I drive.

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    Mute Steve Mac
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    May 1st 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Terry McSweeney: well that’s bull for starters. Most cyclists do drive.

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    Mute Larry Doherty
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    May 1st 2017, 9:39 PM

    @All Hail Bukowski: This is what cyclists are up against from bullying and ignorant lorry drivers – probably texting as usual. See link…

    http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/watch-frightening-handlebar-footage-shows-10279094

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    Mute Alison Morgan
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    May 1st 2017, 2:40 PM

    Since when is Harolds cross in Crumlin?

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    Mute declan burke
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    May 1st 2017, 2:54 PM

    @Alison Morgan: parnell road is in crumlin

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    Mute Lukey
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    May 2nd 2017, 11:39 AM

    @declan burke: If by crumlin you mean Harolds cross then yeah

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    Mute Patricia Delaney
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    May 1st 2017, 3:12 PM

    Address is misleading junction is Harold’s Cross Bridge which is in Harold’s Cross not Crimlin

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    May 1st 2017, 5:00 PM

    @Patricia Delaney: the truck proceeded towards Parnell road.. which is in Crumlin. ..

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    Mute Frank Brennan
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    May 1st 2017, 7:14 PM

    @Suzie Sunshine: The truck was turning left off Grove Rd onto HAROLDS X RD the cyclist RIP was proceeding straight on from Grove Rd onto Parnell Rd according to the report that’s given in this report.Just for your info.That section of Parnell Rd the cyclist .RIP was going towards is in HAROLDS X up to Clogher Rd.

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    Mute Tori Burke
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    May 1st 2017, 5:14 PM

    HGV Trucks are much to big to no on the canal roads there are many other safer routes to take Dangerous junction also used by a lot of school children I had a very young femily member killed by a H G V many years ago they must use safer alternative routes

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    Mute Tony Daly
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    May 1st 2017, 10:43 PM

    Never, ever get caught on the inside of a HGV. Stay out.

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    Mute Larry Doherty
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    May 1st 2017, 9:43 PM

    HGV drivers are inclined to bully other road users because of their size. See link of recent near miss by cyclist in Donegal.

    http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/watch-frightening-handlebar-footage-shows-10279094

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    Mute William Kelly
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    May 2nd 2017, 7:27 AM

    And require commercial goods & service vehicles to operate off peak, preferably 20.00- 06.00.

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    Mute William Kelly
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    May 2nd 2017, 7:24 AM

    I have to observe that DCC is very negligent in providing proper bike lanes & general traffic streaming for the safety of cyclists.
    Erratic lanes, vanishing & poorly maintained, on street car parking, unregulated truck & van deliveries are obvious failings.
    When will they impose the principle that roads are for travel, not for the storage of cars & other vehicles? Is it not blatantly obvious that if you need or opt to use a vehicle within cities, that you must have somewhere other than the public street to put it when not in use?
    Safety &environmental objectives seem to be second fiddle to parking revenues, & the actual traffic management seems to be minimalist & amateurish.

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