A nation stops to mourn with a community in total shock

PJ’S WHITE Beemer was his pride and joy, so much so that a framed photograph of the lovingly tended 19-year-old motor came to the church with him for his funeral and two of his wreaths were shaped as cars bearing the BMW emblem.

Paul loved “doing the lap”, his requiem Mass heard, the lap being Inishowen slang for cruising around town showing off his latest set of wheels. A copy of his favourite read, Autotrader, was placed at the altar.

Mark only ever wanted to be a truck driver, and got his wish at McDaid’s Quarry where the cab of an eight-wheel DAF was like his second home.