The funeral of Derry boxing great Neil McLaughlin will take place today.
The late Neil McLaughlin.
Neil, who represented Ireland at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, died on Monday. He was 65.
His remains will leave his home at Ardnamoyle Park in Shantallow at 9.30am for 10.00am Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes, Steelstown. He will be laid to rest immediately afterwards in the City Cemetery.
A talented flyweight, Neil reached the quarter-finals of the 1972 Olympics.
Neil was one of four Derry men on the Irish Olympic team, the others being fellow boxer Charlie Nash, swimmer Liam Ball and Terry Watt (judo).
The previous summer he won a bronze medal at the European Championships held in Madrid, Spain.
A lifelong republican, he gave evidence at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry telling Lord Saville he heard bullets “whoosh” over his head as paratroopers fired at him as they moved into Derry’s Bogside.
Among those who paid tribute to Neil was Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness who said he was “sad” to hear of the death of his “friend.”
A spokesperson for Shantallow Sinn Fein said: “We send our condolences to the McLaughlin family and friends on the passing of Neil McLaughlin. A lifelong republican and a sincere individual, he will be greatly missed.”
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