Two More Cork Crash Victims Buried

The funerals of two victims of last week's Cork air crash tragedy has taken place today - a week after the shock accident that killed six people and left the other six on board injured.

Captain Michael Evans, 51, and Richard Noble, 49, were among the six people to die on the Manx2 flight from Belfast, which crashed at Cork attempting to land in dense fog.

Capt Evans was the Deputy Harbour Master for Belfast Harbour Commissioners and Mr Noble, who lived in Belfast - but was originally from Derbyshire - was Managing Director of the Irish division of printing business, the Danwood Group.

With a VIP visit set to take place today in NI, senior government figures have postponed two nautical related stops as a mark of respect for the late Capt Evans.

He was buried at Carnmoney Cemetery following a service at Sinclair Seamen's Presbyterian Church in Belfast.

The service was conducted by the minister of Sinclair Seamen's the Rev Drew Abernethy. Belfast Lord Mayor, Pat Convery and Col Michael McMahon, representing the President of Ireland - attended as did the First and Deputy First Ministers.

Mr Noble's body was taken from the family home at Jordanstown to Roselawn Crematorium, Belfast.

The funeral services for two other victims from Northern Ireland were held on Monday.

Brendan McAleese, 39, who was originally from Tannaghmore, owned the Central Laundries business in Cookstown in Co Tyrone, and was married with a young family and was a cousin of the Irish President Mary McAleese's husband Martin.

Pat Cullinan, 45, originally from Omagh, was a partner in accountancy firm KPMG in Belfast.

The two crew on board the Manx2 flight from Belfast to Cork also died in the crash.

Jordi Gola Lopez, 31, was from Manresa, Barcelona.

His British co-pilot, Andy Cantle, was from the north east of England.

NIO Secretary of State, Owen Paterson and the UK Shipping Minister, Mike Penning were due to visit Belfast Harbour Commission on Thursday but have called off that part of the schedule as it coincides with the funeral of the late Deputy Harbour Master.

It is believed that a scheduled visit to Bangor Coastguard has also been shelved.

(BMcC/GK)