President leads tributes to Aiken

President Mary McAleese has led tributes for the late concert promoter Jim Aiken whose body was brought last night to St Brigid's Catholic church in south Belfast.

A large crowd of mourners gathered to pay their respects and to offer sympathy to Anne, Mr Aiken's wife of 46 years, and their children Peter, Claire, Susan, Cathy and Joan, grandchildren and extended family.

There were well-known faces in the crowd and wreaths from the likes of U2, Westlife and the Chieftains. More mourners from the world he promoted are expected at his funeral Mass today, but the sense last night was of an occasion for ordinary people to mourn his passing.

Mr Aiken ( 74), who died peacefully on Tuesday night after a short illness, will be buried in his native Jonesborough in south Armagh after requiem Mass at St Brigid's at noon today.

Local curate Fr Eugene O'Neill said last night that Mr Aiken was one of the "most beloved of parishioners" and that the large attendance testified to the esteem and love in which he was held.

That sentiment was reflected in the reaction and outpouring of sympathy to the Aiken family yesterday. His death was front-page news in the Belfast newspapers and the lead item on news bulletins on radio and television.

All the stories reflected how be enticed the world's greatest bands and singers to Ireland and, more particularly, how in the darkest days of the Troubles, his concerts instilled some hope and fun in Belfast.

Mrs McAleese, who took time out from official engagements in Belfast last week to visit Mr Aiken at his home, referred to the special concerts at Stormont featuring performers such as Pavarotti and Elton John, which were held to promote the sense of developing peace around the time of the Belfast Agreement.

"On a personal level," the President added, "Jim was an incredibly modest man, very much devoted to his family, and my thoughts and prayers are with Jim's widow, Anne, and their family at this time of great loss."