AER LINGUS is to restart the repatriation service to Shannon airport of remains for funerals. The service ended when the airline dropped its Shannon to Heathrow route in January and it meant funerals were being delayed by a day or more, often causing distress to relatives.
Aer Lingus had planned to withdrawn its repatriation service on all routes in 2004 but reconsidered after protests. However, since the ending of the direct Shannon-Heathrow link, families in the west have had to travel to Dublin or Cork to receive repatriated remains.
Patrick Ryan & Daughter funeral directors of Ealing, London, said they were restarting the repatriation service after getting the approval of Aer Lingus cargo handlers at Shannon, Dublin and Heathrow."The introduction of this service means that funerals may now take place in Ireland a day earlier than before. Remains will be flown to Dublin on the late Heathrow flight before being transported on the final leg of the journey to Shannon airport on one of two early morning transatlantic flights," said Patrick Ryan.
"There is no doubt that the loss of the repatriation service to the west of Ireland did add to the distress of families at a very vulnerable time," said the Cappamore, Co Limerick native.
"Traditionally many Irish-born people living throughout Britain express a wish to be buried in Ireland when they die. And up until the removal of the direct service between Shannon and Heathrow it was fairly common practice to fly remains over from Britain. Indeed, the bodies of Irish people who died elsewhere in Europe were also repatriated through Shannon via Heathrow."