Tributes paid at funeral of Naas ambulance victim as quiet man who loved children

The ambulance of ambulance fire victim Christy Byrne paid tribute to a "quiet, witty man" at his funeral yesterday.

Hundreds of mourners at St Brigid's Church on the Curragh paid their last respects to the unassuming man who worked with horses all his life.

Christy, who was in his 70s and from Suncroft, lost his life in a freak ambulance accident outside Naas General Hospital last Thursday.

An exploding oxygen canister may have been the cause of the inferno.

The ambulance burst into flames outside the hospital's emergency entrance, killing Christy, who was in the vehicle at the time, and injuring two paramedics who tried to save him.

Family members carried out the church readings and prayers.

On the way to the altar, they passed by Christy's coffin which was adorned with red and white flowers, the peaked cap he wore and a framed picture of him.

To the strains of Ave Maria, Christy's much-loved grandchildren Laura and Paul brought up the offertory gifts.

In his sermon, local priest Fr McDonald described Christy as having a deep and enduring love for people and animals, things he would be remembered for.

The cleric said: "He had a particular fondness for horses, and could do anything with them, having worked with them for most of his life. Christy bore the cross of illness well in recent years and never complained.

"Whoever sees the son and believes in him shall see the light and while there is sadness in parting, particularly for Christy's grieving family and friends, we live in the hope that we will meet Christy in the light again.

"We also thank the paramedics who were injured in this accident for their bravery and pray for them to make a full recovery from their injuries.

Ambulance workers Stephen Lloyd and David Finnegan were injured, with Stephen receiving serious burns.

In a moving tribute by his daughter Lil, Christy was described as "a quiet, shy man who had a simple way of life and never complained".

She added: "Words can't describe our grief. He loved his family, and adored his grandchildren. He had a passion for animals of all shapes and sizes.

"His back door was always open, and from the house he could keep an eye on the comings and goings of both the birds and the cats."