FUNERAL: Hundreds of mourners yesterday paid their respects to bomb victim Ciaran Cassidy at an emotional funeral service.
More than 800 people packed into St Mellitus Catholic Church near Finsbury Park, north London to say their farewells to the "friendly and thoughtful" shopworker.
Ciaran (22) was killed in the July 7th attacks while travelling to work on the Piccadilly Line train near King's Cross station.
A crowd of friends and colleagues spilled out on to the street to listen to the service broadcast outside the church on speakers. Close friend Joe Hayes read a tribute to Ciaran, who was born in London but had an Irish passport. "He didn't care for politics or war but for his family, his friends, for his football and his weekend drink," he said.
Mr Hayes added: "Ciaran was a true character . . . he had no hatred. There are people here who had known Ciaran for only two months and people who had known him for two decades."
On behalf of the Cassidy family he thanked the police, fire brigade, paramedics and their family liaison officer. He asked for his friend to be remembered as the "helpful, thoughtful, laughing and joking person he was", calling him a "true ray of sunshine".
Among the congregation was Ciaran's father, Seán, originally from Cavan, his mother Veronica and his sister Lisa.