Hundreds at funeral of Clare teacher

A SISTER of schoolteacher Brian Casey (26) described her brother to mourners yesterday “as a role model, inspiring son and loyal friend”.

The Lissycasey man, a teacher, died on Monday after sustaining injuries arising from an alleged assault in O’Connell Square in Ennis, Co Clare, on St Stephen’s night.

In a moving tribute at the end of Mr Casey’s funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Lissycasey yesterday, Martina Casey said with Brian’s passing, he had “left many things undone and other things he never had a chance to start”.

The church was already full at 11.30am for the midday Mass at Davis College, as hundreds more listened to the service outside.

Addressing the Casey family, Fr Peter O’Loughlin said: “We have no answers why this happened to someone so good . . . No words can be of any help to you, but our hearts go out to you.”

Fr O’Loughlin said that the only people who could know what Brian’s parents, Martin and Eileen, were going through were those who had lost children in similar circumstances, adding that some people in this situation had been in contact with the family.

Mr Casey is also survived by his girlfriend Cecilia Talty, with whom he had been going out for 10 years.

Ms Casey told her: “Many people travel the world and a lifetime to find the person they are looking for, but Brian only had to travel two minutes away.”

She added: “Be assured that Brian will never leave your side.”

Mr Casey was a panel member of the Lissycasey side that won the Clare county football championship in 2007 and was a regular on the team for the past two seasons.

His framed Lissycasey jersey was one of the gifts offered up during Mass. Mr Casey’s team-mates formed a guard of honour outside the church before he was taken to the local cemetery for burial.

Mr Casey is survived by his parents Martin and Eileen, sisters Martina and Eileen, brother Niall and girlfriend Cecilia.