Mourners told of young man `taken in an instant'

The final act of the Air Corps crew killed in Friday's crash was one of compassion, mercy and a concern for those who were vulnerable, the funeral of the last of the four men to be buried was told yesterday.

Mgr John Crowley, head chaplain of the Defence Forces, told mourners at the funeral of Capt. Mick Baker in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, that he was a young man "full of energy, enthusiasm and zest for life taken from us in an instant".

"We seek and search for something to hold on to at this time. It must be our belief and our hope that God does not inflict such tragedies on us. They come unbidden, unwanted from our world."

Several hundred mourners lined the street outside St Aidan's Cathedral, which was packed for the funeral Mass.

The chief mourners were Capt. Baker's parents, Tony and Mary, sister Antoinette, brothers Cormac and Tom, and girlfriend Siobhan Dunne.

Mr and Mrs Baker had previously lost another son, John, aged three, in 1980.

The President, Mrs McAleese, attended yesterday's funeral, while the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was represented by his aide-decamp, Capt. Michael Kiernan.

Also present were the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith; the Minister of State for Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Hugh Byrne; the Chief-of-Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut. Gen. Dave Stapleton; and the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen. Pat Cranfield.

In a homily, Mgr Crowley, who was chief concelebrant, said sudden and unexpected deaths shattered our world.

"One minute we are talking about the regular things of life, and within seconds all is changed, and changed for ever. On Thursday last our lives were focused on the future, of dreams and hopes to be realised. Friday morning, it was about the past and memories of happier days and happier times."

He said no words of his could adequately encapsulate the emptiness, pain and sorrow felt by Capt. Baker's loved ones.

Referring to the robbery which took place at Capt. Baker's parents' home on Saturday night, Mgr Crowley said that not only had they lost their son, "but others chose to exploit this tragedy for their benefit".

"What can I say? What can anyone say? But as I look down this church today, I see so many people, your friends, and friends of Mick, neighbours, representatives of church and State, good people, kind people, loving people.

"The support and concern of others sustain us all at such times. Love will overcome and win out, even over death."

There were frequent references to Capt. Baker's avid interest in poetry, which he frequently quoted to his Air Corps colleagues. Mgr Crowley read lines from "one of Mick's favourite poems", which he often quoted, The Listeners, by Walter de la Mare.

"The death of his brother, John, had challenged Mick to face difficult and painful issues, and perhaps gave him that tremendous zest for life, and living it, his sense of fun, and 110 per cent commitment to sport, to sailing, to flying and to life itself."

The Bishop of Ferns, Dr Brendan Comiskey, led the final commendation, after which Capt. Baker was buried with full military honours at St Mary's Cemetery.