Alan Drennan: Hundreds attend funeral of Ibiza tragedy man (21)

The funeral of Newtownabbey man Alan Drennan has taken place.
Alan Drennan (21) was found dead in his hotel room in Ibiza on July 19.Alan Drennan (21) was found dead in his hotel room in Ibiza on July 19.
Alan Drennan (21) was found dead in his hotel room in Ibiza on July 19.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral today at St Dorothea’s Parish Church in Gilnahirk, east Belfast.

Mr Drennan, who was 21, died on holiday in Ibiza two weeks ago. He was found dead in his hotel room on July 19, less than 24 hours after arriving on the island.

The mechanic and doorman had gone to Ibiza on holiday with 10 friends.

Officiating at the funeral, rector Rev Nigel Kirkpatrick described Mr Drennan as “a young man who was just bursting with love”.

He had been told that recently Alan was driving on the Westlink when he spotted a man walking in the middle of the road, totally disorientated.

“Instead of doing as the other drivers did and just steering around him, he stopped the car, got the man in and brought him to the hospital, getting him the help he needed,” said the minister, adding: “My favourite part of that story is about when he just went home and said nothing at all about it.

“In fact, no one would have known about it, had the man not put it out on social media about Alan’s kindness.”

The circumstances of Mr Drennan’s death remain unclear, but friends claim he was beaten by police after an incident on the flight to the Mediterranean island.

A post mortem was conducted in Spain and a second examination took place in Dublin on Wednesday, at the request of Mr Drennan’s family.