ABOUT one thousand mourners attended the funeral in Dundalk yesterday of Mr Francis White, who died after being stabbed in New York last Tuesday. Aged 28, he was due to return home in a few days.
His father had to be supported as he walked into St Bridget's Church, Kilcurry, for his eldest son's funeral Mass yesterday.
His fiancee, Ms Sabrina Swenson, who had travelled from New York, walked arm in arm with the women who were to be her in-laws. People also travelled from Tipperary, Donegal and the US for the funeral.
The parish priest of Castletown, Father Martin Kenny, told mourners the tragic death had shattered Mr White's family but he had packed much living into his 28 years. He said Francis had been born in Cavan and, aged four, had come close to death through childhood illness.
He continued: "Francis was well known and loved and in this parish in particular. After his education he moved to Germany, spending a successful period there, and then eight years ago he moved to the States."
"In those eight years Francis was everybody's friend in that city showing everyone, in particular the Irish, the sites of the Big Apple and putting them up in his apartment until they found their feet."
At the offering, members of the family, his fiancee and his flat mate, Mr Charlie Hamill brought up the gifts which symbolised a busy life and his profession as a chef.
Police in New York are still investigating the fatal stabbing by a man who had earlier been involved in a fracas, in which Francis and others had intervened near O'Hanlons Pub in Queens. He was waked by publicans from Manhattan to Queens on Thursday night before the removal of his body to Ireland.
He was buried in the cemetery adjoining St Bridget's Church yesterday. He is survived by his parents, Bernard and Lydia White, his brother Breen, and sisters Deirdre and Marie.