Army comrades of the young Irish soldier killed in a parachuting accident in the Netherlands earlier this week joined his family and friends for the removal of his remains to his local church in Cork city yesterday evening.
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to Pt Shane O'Neill (24), from Mount Nebo Avenue, Gurranabraher, who died when his parachute failed to open during a private parachute training course he was participating in while on holiday in the Netherlands.
Military police served as pallbearers and an armed escort, under Comdt Conor Burke, was provided by members of Pt O'Neill's unit, B Company, 4th Infantry Battalion. The guard of honour was also drawn from the 4th Infantry Battalion.
Among the chief mourners at Pt O'Neill's removal from O'Connor's Funeral Home, North Gate Bridge, were his father, Eugene, his brother, Finbarr, and his sisters Regina, Teresa, Jacinta and Lucy.
Also present was Col Leo Brownen, executive officer and second-in-command of the 1st Southern Brigade, Collins Barracks, who represented Brig Gen David Taylor, GOC, 1st Southern Brigade. Lt Col David Prendergast, OC, 4th Infantry Battalion, also attended.
Other mourners included the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr P.J. Hourican, and a number of public representatives. The owner of the parachute centre where Pt O'Neill died, Mr Rob Rienks, travelled from the Netherlands for the service.
Over 200 military personnel followed the Tricolour-draped coffin along Shandon Street to the Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher, accompanied by the Band of the Southern Command, under Capt Liam Daly.
Originally from Limerick, Pt O'Neill was one of eight Army friends from Collins Barracks who had travelled to Texel in northern Holland last Friday to participate in the parachute course. The group had completed their ground training last weekend and were doing the first of five jumps on Monday morning when the accident occurred.
Pt O'Neill will be buried today in St Catherine's Cemetery, Kilcully, after Requiem Mass at 11 a.m.
