Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of the Catholic student who died after a vicious assault outside a Co Antrim nightclub. Christopher Whitson (20), from north Belfast, had been celebrating his brother's birthday at Kelly's in Portrush.
He was attacked outside the venue and died in hospital 10 days later. The club remained closed yesterday as a mark of respect. Mr Whitson, from Strathmore Park, had been studying at Dundee University.
A 23-year-old man has been remanded in custody charged with his murder. Two other men are also in custody charged with causing him grievous bodily harm. It is understood that those charges are being reviewed.
Father Sean Emerson told mourners at Requiem Mass at the Church of the Resurrection on the Cavehill Road, that his death was a tragedy. "We live in a violent society where violence is often accepted as a way of life, not just in deed but in word and thought or word and deed," he said.
"There is, in our society, a great abuse of alcohol and drugs which causes massive confusion and immoral melees. More important than the words of condemnation are the words of encouragement to find a balance in our lives, to live according to a moral code of conduct, to respond to the call of Christ, to be a son or daughter of God and to act with justice, integrity and humility."
Mr Whitson's parents and brother and sister were consoled by friends and family.
Father Emerson said the student had not died in vain. "It has encouraged great generosity and love between family, between friends, in our parish community and in the much wider community. It has brought people together, hopefully to realise how precious the gift of life is."