Irish President at Cork crash victim’s funeral

Brendan McAleese, 39, who lived near the village of Kells, outside Ballymena, was one of six to die in the accident at Cork airport last Thursday after his Manx2 flight from Belfast crashed in thick fog.

Grieving wife Anne Marie held the hands of Ava, five, and Erin, three, as they walked poignantly behind the cortege.

Irish President Mary McAleese was among other mourners for her husband’s cousin at St MacNissius church in Tannaghmore, Antrim. The 1,000-strong crowd included crash survivors Donal Walsh, from Waterford, and Laurence Wilson, from Larne, Co Antrim.

Canon Malachy Murphy said Mr McAleese was the heart and soul of any gathering and adored his family.

He said: “Brendan was first and foremost a family man. He adored Anne Marie, Ava and Erin.

“All his energies were geared to providing for them. He had a warm personality, honest and generous. He looked out for others. There wasn’t a selfish bone in his body