A YOUNG man who died a year after he suffered a debilitating sports injury that left him paralysed from the neck down was remembered yesterday at his requiem Mass as a person who possessed an “indomitable spirit, steely courage and gutsy humour”.
Twelve priests presided over the noon funeral Mass for Stuart Mangan at his parish church of St Patrick’s in Fermoy, Co Cork. The 26-year-old died on August 7th last at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after he developed pneumonia.
Stuart, who was a fly-half at Hammersmith and Fulham rugby club, suffered a catastrophic spinal injury during a friendly match in London on April 5th, 2008.
Last Christmas Stuart moved in to a specially-fitted apartment in Notting Hill where he received around the clock care from his parents, carers and former co- workers at the bank where he had worked, PNB Paribas.
At the requiem Mass yesterday Stuart’s father Brian said his youngest son enjoyed a busy few days prior to his death, attending a cricket match and doing an interview for a BBC documentary. He said they had “chatted deeply” about his life going forward.
“He said he was going to pace himself. He was talking like a warrior. He always said it was an accident and nobody’s fault and he continued to love rugby. [After the accident] one of the things that became very clear to us was how important our Irishness was to us. Everywhere we went there was an Irish doctor or an Irish nurse who we felt gave us that little bit extra. The support of the people of Fermoy has [also] been amazing.”
Chief celebrant at the requiem Mass Fr Eugene Baker also paid tribute to Stuart’s tremendous courage in the face of adversity.
He remembered with fondness Stuart’s relationship with the parish and in particular his practice of helping out with readings at the church.
Hundreds attended yesterday’s Mass including mayor of Fermoy Noel McCarthy and former Irish rugby star Keith Wood. Rugby players had been instrumental in raising funds for Stuart’s recovery, with such well-known names as Denis Leamy, Ronan O’Gara, Lawrence Dallaglio and Dan Carter all supporting the Stuart Mangan Appeal.
The Mangan family plans to set up a fund in Stuart’s honour to help other incapacitated people in Ireland. “At yesterday’s Mass they asked that, if desired, in lieu of flowers, donations would be made to the IRFU Charitable Trust, the RFU Injured Players Foundation or the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.
Stuart was laid to rest at Kilcrumper Cemetery in Fermoy. He is survived by his parents Brian and Una, and brothers Barry, Keith and John. His organs were donated as per his instructions in the event of his death.