THE funeral of GAA player Conall Kerrigan who tragically died on a night out with club players in Derry on Sunday will take place today.
The 25-year-old was in the city centre with pals from the Claudy’s John Mitchells GAA Club when he went missing after getting separated at the end of the night when he left the Metro Bar.
When he failed to return home, his team mates returned to the area to carry out a search for him.
His body was found by his shocked cousin in Bank Place at around 10.20pm on Sunday, approximately 20 hours after he was seen leaving the nearby Metro Bar.
Police initially treated his death as “unexplained” but following the results of a post mortem examination carried out today, they said they did not believe his death was the result of a crime.
Conall’s Requiem Mass will take place in the local St Patrick’s Church, Claudy at 11.00 am this morning.
Conall will be laid to rest immediately afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
His club will give his remains a guard of honour at the church before and after the service,
Claudy John Mitchel’s GAC have cancelled all training and matches this week as a mark of respect.
As his family wake him at home, police have made a fresh appeal for information as they work to fully establish his final movements before he tragically fell.
Officers are also investigating the possibility his wallet was stolen some time before his death.
Police yesterday issued the last picture of Conall which was taken on Saturday night while out with friends.
They hoped people in Derry city centre may recognise him from the clothes he was wearing on his night out with club pals.
Chief Inspector Alan Hutton said: “We know that he was in the Metro Bar and left there and was seen on the city walls.
“From an extensive trawl of CCTV footage, we know that a number of people saw him and spoke to him.
“At one stage, Conall left the walls and went down into Foyle Street.
“The last confirmed sighting we currently have is of Conall returning to the walls via the steps near the library at about 2.45 am on Sunday.”
Chief Inspector Hutton added: “Our renewed appeal is to anyone who was on the walls or in Foyle Street in the early hours of Sunday.
“If you saw him; if you spoke to him, please call the detectives at Strand Road station on the 101 non-emergency number.
“We are also investigating the possibility that sometime before his death, Conall’s wallet was stolen from him.
“No wallet was found in his possession, however, after extensive searches it was recovered by police.
“As part of our appeal, we would like to hear from anyone who was in the city centre generally on Sunday morning and knows or has heard of attempts to steal wallets from other people.”
Tags: