HUNDREDS OF people turned out for the memorial service in London last night for Stuart Mangan from Cork who died last Friday, a year after he was paralysed in a rugby accident.
A long line of friends, family and colleagues stretched through the door of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Kensington to join his parents, Una and Brian, for the special Mass.
The former scrum-half and out-half from Fermoy suffered a devastating spinal injury while playing rugby with his club Hammersmith and Fulham RFC in London in April last year.
He never recovered any sensation below his neck, but friends described Mr Mangan’s “zest for life” and how he was making the most of it living in an apartment in Bayswater, West London.
He died last Friday at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after succumbing to respiratory problems the night before.
His family last night described how much he had been enjoying life, even going to the pub the night before he was suddenly hospitalised last week.
Flanked by two of her three surviving sons, Keith and Barry, Una Mangan told The Irish Times ahead of the memorial service how her son Stuart’s drive had kept them all going since the accident.
“If you saw how he worked, he was incredible,” Mrs Mangan said.
“He worked hard before his accident and he was the same person after. He was incredible. He just kept us going and going.”
Mrs Mangan had been caring for her son since the accident with a team of seven carers.
Fr Michael McGoldrick said: “Stuart was full of life and had faced the option of suicide and decided that was not for him. He wanted to live life to the full. Una was there for him for the ups and downs and when things were bleak she kept him going.”
Among Mr Mangan’s work colleagues from the bank where he had worked, PNB Paribas, were several of the carers who had shared his final months.
Among them were Janet Green and Thomas Davies who were with Mr Mangan on the night he died.
Pat Mulcahy, who was at last night’s service representing Mr Mangan’s old school Rockwell College in Co Tipperary, said: “I last met Stuart about six weeks ago, at Henley Regatta.
“He was fantastic and was so bright and sharp and a great conversationalist.
“He has left a great legacy behind him because he bore his tragedy so well.”
Today Mr Mangan’s remains will be received into the Church of St Therese, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin, for memorial Mass at 5.30pm.
His remains will repose at Ronayne’s funeral home Lower Patrick Street, Fermoy, Co Cork tomorrow from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
Requiem Mass takes place in St Patrick’s Church, Fermoy on Friday at noon.