Clerical honour for Clonoe man who died after falling ill at Mass the day after his sister's funeral

Kevin Harrington had returned to Tyrone from London following the death of his sister Norah.

He was praying at Clonoe Chapel, where her Requiem Mass also took place, when it is thought he suffered a heart attack.

A local doctor who was in the congregation provided resuscitation before Kevin was rushed to hospital, but sadly he died five days later at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

Kevin was a past pupil of Aughamullan School and St Patrick’s Academy, before he continued his studies at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he trained for the priesthood alongside Clonoe parish priest Canon Fee.

Wearing Kevin’s vestment as a tribute, Canon Fee said: “Each of us had to grapple with discerning our vocation and opening our hearts to whatever God’s will was for our lives.”

Despite completing his studies, Kevin decided against ordination and moved to London where he worked for BT.

A chalice and paten, the traditional elements placed on a priest’s casket, were placed on Kevin’s coffin.

An Arsenal jersey was also carried to the altar during the offertory procession for the lifelong supporter.

Canon Fee continued: “Life I like to think wasn’t too bad at all, though his cardiac problems were never far away.”