Body of miner to be repatriated to Philippines this week

The body of the mine-worker killed in an underground rockfall on Thursday will be repatriated to his native Philippines this week.

A recovery operation which lasted more than two days was completed at 11.30pm on Saturday when rescue workers and emergency services brought the remains of Mario Francis, 49, to the surface at Lisheen Mine in Co Tipperary.

Mr Francis, who worked at the lead and zinc mine for more than 12 years and lived in Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, died when rocks fell on the loader vehicle he was driving in a section of tunnel on Thursday afternoon.