Death leaves ‘6ft 7in gap in our lives’

The death of Aussie Rules star Jim Stynes has left a 6ft 7in gap in people’s lives, his brother told thousands of mourners at his funeral.

The 45-year-old Dubliner, who lost a long battle with cancer last week, was honoured with a state funeral at St Paul’s Cathedral in his adopted home city of Melbourne.

Outside the church, about 5,000 fans poured into the city’s Federation Square to watch the service on a big screen.