Thousands mourn sea rescue hero

THOUSANDS of mourners last night accompanied a man who died in a sea rescue tragedy, last weekend, on his final journey.

People queued for almost an hour to pay their respects to the family and fiancee of Peter O’Keeffe, 36, from Model Farm Road in Cork.

Mr O’Keeffe was swept out to sea last Sunday along with 22-year-old student, Jonathan Herlihy, from Glanmire, after they rescued two swimmers in difficulty off Owenahincha beach, in West Cork.

Peter’s body was recovered on Tuesday, while the search resumed this morning for Jonathan’s body.

Last night, thousands of people attended the removal of Peter’s remains from O’Connor’s Funeral home in Wilton, at 7pm.

The cortege arrived under garda escort at St Mary and St John’s Church, in Ballincollig, at 8.15pm.

As darkness fell and temperatures dropped, Peter’s father, Reg, stood behind the coffin containing the remains of his only son, and linked arms with his daughters, Suzanne, Gillian, Shirley and Yvonne, and with Peter’s heart-broken fiancée, Anne Riordan. They walked arm-in-arm and side-by-side into the church before draping a plain white cloth over the coffin.

A framed photograph of Peter, a bible, a cross and bouquet of flowers were placed on top.

Family friend, Fr Jim Donovan, who has been supporting both grieving families, led the prayers, describing Peter as a “modern saint”.

“We are numbed and shocked at what happened, but we are privileged to be gathered around Peter tonight,” he said, “To me, what Peter did made him more than a man — he was a modern saint.

“He made the supreme sacrifice giving his life to save the lives of two people. He’s in heaven now with his mother.”

Prayers were also said for the Herlihy family, whose vigil on Owenahincha beach continues, that the sea might return their son.

Peter O’Keeffe’s funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am this morning and he will be buried afterwards alongside his mother Peg in St Oliver’s Cemetery.