A former seaman killed in the Cork plane crash was loyal and dedicated to his family, his funeral heard today.
Capt Michael Evans and wife Andrea were “soulmates”, the Harbour Master of Belfast Port said. Capt Kevin Allen addressed crowds of mourners at the Sinclair Seamen’s Presbyterian church in Belfast’s docklands where Capt Evans’ wife and four children, Darren, Dean, Rebecca and Jordan, led mourners.
Capt Evans (51), a hard-working ex-deep sea mariner from Hartlepool, was one of six killed in the accident in thick fog at Cork airport last Thursday on a flight from Belfast.
A funeral was held earlier today for another victim, Belfast businessman Richard Noble, in Belfast.
Cap Allen said the work of his late colleague and deputy harbour master in Belfast Port on the 2009 Tall Ships festival exemplified him.
“Michael worked tirelessly to ensure every marine aspect was right - and he did it his way with a tenacity, enthusiasm, a huge energy - and through that work he gained the respect of all the organisations he came in contact with,” he said.
Among the mourners were Donal Walsh, a student from Waterford, and Laurence Wilson, from Co Antrim, who survived the Manx 2 crash. They embraced Andrea Evans as they stood feet from the coffin outside the church.
Also present were Lord Mayor of Belfast Pat Convery and Col Michael McMahon, representing President Mary McAleese.
Following the service conducted by the Rev Drew Abernethy, Capt Evans was buried in a private ceremony at Carnmoney Cemetery in north Belfast.
He joined Belfast Harbour in 2002 as Assistant Harbour Master before being promoted three years later. Capt Evans worked in the 1980s as an employee of the China Navigation Company of Hong Kong. He was later employed at P&O Ferries’ Northern Ireland operation.
Meanwhile, the funeral of Mr Noble was held at Roselawn Crematorium in the south of the city. Yorkshire-born Mr Noble (49), lived in Jordanstown and is survived by wife Allison and daughter Charlotte. He worked for the Danwood Group, which supplies office printing equipment and document management services in the UK and Ireland.
Funerals for two of the other crash victims were held on Monday.
Co Tyrone businessman Brendan McAleese (39) who was a cousin of President Mary McAleese’s husband Martin, was buried after a funeral service at St MacNissius Church in Tannaghmore, Antrim.
A funeral for 45-year-old Pat Cullinan, a partner in leading accountancy firm KPMG in Belfast, took place at St Patrick’s Church in the Co Tyrone village of Cranagh.
The other victims were Spanish pilot Jordi Gola Lopez (31) and co-pilot Andrew Cantle (27) from York.
PA