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Cold and empty - family of boxer Frankie Young describe holding a funeral during lockdown

Legendary boxer Frankie Young who died last week following a lengthy illness.
Legendary boxer Frankie Young who died last week following a lengthy illness. Legendary boxer Frankie Young who died last week following a lengthy illness.

As the coronavirus clamp down on funerals continues, the family of legendary Belfast boxer Frankie Young explain the heartache of being forced to give their father what they said looked like a "pauper's funeral" instead of the send off he deserved.

During his professional boxing career the father of four had travelled the world, spreading his fame beyond Irish boxing circles onto the global stage.

His family say that the process of burying their father (74), who passed away last week, without a proper funeral or wake has left them in limbo.

Down and Connor announced this week that they would be the first diocese to end all funerals inside churches, the deceased instead taken directly to cemeteries for burial.

Bishop Noel Treanor said he realised the pain this would cause to bereaved families, but added: "It is simply too risk-laden to gather inside buildings even in small numbers."

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While a small number of members of the Young family were allowed to attend a 12 minute service at St Luke's Church in Twinbrook, his daughter Deirdre said it was a "cold" experience that has left them unable to properly grieve.

"My daddy had been sick for a long time, we always thought his funeral would be a celebration of a great man's life", said Ms Young.

"We wanted to welcome all his friends into our home, hear all the old boxing stories from those who knew him as a younger man, to laugh together and to cry together.

"We received hundreds of cards, people would have been queuing down the street to pay respects in normal circumstances, instead it was just us in the house trying to make sense of it all.

"The priest didn't come until the day after we brought him home, he had to be very cautious as he was tending the sick.

"We weren't allowed to carry the coffin, we weren't allowed music or readings or funeral cars.

"We were told we could only have 30 people in the church, including celebrants and undertakers, that meant there was 22 family members.

"My mum sat at the end of a pew by herself, we were only allowed three to a pew then an empty row and then another three.

"Once we were in the church the door was closed, there was no congregation no role for the grandchildren, it was so cold.

"We went to the graveyard for five minutes, said a few prayers and went home for a cup of tea.

"It was surreal, it still is, there was no process, none of the warmth and togetherness you would expect from a big family funeral".

The veteran boxer had spent several months being treated at Lagan Valley hospital prior to his death.

"The staff there are a credit to the health service", said Ms Young.

"We got to know some of them so well and we all want to go back and see them and thank them for how kind and committed they were.

"Obviously that's not possible right now.

"My mum is in bits, she's 73 and home alone in self isolation, grieving her husband and all we can can do as a family is keeping ringing and Facetiming her, try and keep her going until all this is over.

"The grandchildren keep asking after nanny, they want to know who was minding her.

"The guilt is awful, we feel like we gave him pauper's funeral instead of the send off our kind and funny, daddy deserved."

"But we will not let this go, it is his birthday in October and we plan to hold the biggest celebration of his life, get all his old friends and family together and listen to those stories about him and his extraordinary life.

"A proper send off is part of who we are, it's how we start the grieving process, how we comfort each other, I know it's no ones fault but people are being denied that and the impact of that so difficult to deal with", Ms Young added.