Funeral Of Lord Ballyedmond Takes Place

Mourners in attendance of Lord Ballyedmond's funeral have heard how his death is a "huge loss" to those who knew him.

The Northern Ireland peer was killed in a helicopter crash in England earlier this month, along with three other men.

On 13 March, Dr Edward Haughey, 70, and 42-year-old Declan Small were killed in the crash which happened at Gillingham, Norfolk. Two pilots, Capt Carl Dickerson, 36, and Capt Lee Hoyle, 45, also died in the accident.

Dr Haughey was originally from Rostrevor in Co Down. He later moved to, and owned, Gillingham Hall, which is near the fatal crash site.

On Monday morning, requiem mass for Dr Haughey was held at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Colman in Newry, with his burial in the parish cemetery.

Representatives of Northern Ireland's main political parties, including First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, joined Dr Haughey's wife and children at the service.

Canon Francis Brown led the service and those in attendance were told: "Any death in our community saddens us. We feel especially for the relatives and the friends.

"Death is always a shock; even if we know that a person is not well. At a time such as this, we have many words and few words - many words to say what is unimportant and few words to say the real, caring things to each other."

Dr Haughey had a range of business interests throughout his life, but he was best known as the founder and owner of veterinary pharmaceutical firm Norbrook Laboratories in Newry. Mr Small, whose funeral was held on Sunday, was a site foreman for Norbrook Laboratories.

(JP/MH)