Murder victim ‘longed for life free of violence’

A FATHER of one, whose body was recovered from the River Bandon in West Cork, longed for a life without violence, his Requiem Mass heard over the weekend.

The body of 27-year-old Jonathan Duke was recovered from the River Bandon last Monday morning.

Mourners at Mr Duke’s Requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Bandon were told “Dukey” had written a poem about heaven in which he spoke of the violence that was part of his life, and his longing “that it would not be that way.” Jonathan’s poem about the afterlife contained the poignant words “If there is a place in heaven keep it for me because that is where I want to be.”