Hundreds gather for Belfast teenager's funeral

Hundreds of mourners have gathered in north Belfast for the funeral of a teenage cyclist who died in an incident earlier this…

Hundreds of mourners have gathered in north Belfast for the funeral of a teenage cyclist who died in an incident earlier this week.

There were emotional scenes as the coffin carrying Thomas McDonald (16) stopped at the spot where he died on Tuesday.

Assembly member for North Belfast Mr Nigel Dodds attended the private funeral service at the schoolboy's home in White City.

Mr John White, chairman of the UDP, which is linked to the UDA, stood with the hundreds of people gathered outside the house in gloomy weather.

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Thomas's mother had to be supported as she wept uncontrollably while shown the floral tributes that had built up at the scene of the incident over the past three days.

Wreaths reflected Thomas's passion for Northern Ireland soccer club Linfield and the flute band, Whitewell Defenders, he had belonged to.

Thomas's remains were then taken to Roselawn Cemetery in the east of the city.

Ms Alison McKeown (32) appeared before Belfast magistrates earlier this week charged with the teenager's murder.

PA