‘Bryan lost his life trying to keep others safe’

A man whose body was found trapped in a cage last Saturday in the River Shannon died helping to keep others safe, mourners were told at his funeral Mass yesterday.

A lone butterfly flew over the coffin of Bryan Whelan throughout the Mass, as his family, friends, and work colleagues saidgoodbye to a ‘gentleman’ bricklayer with a “heart of gold”.

Mr Whelan, aged 29, from Bridgetown, Co Clare, and TJ O’Herlihy, 36, a stone mason from Castleisland, Co Kerry, died after a cable, held by a crane, snapped as they worked at Thomond Bridge in Limerick.