THE funeral was held yesterday for a man who died after apparently choking on food at a popular Co Antrim restaurant.
Richard Moore was believed to have been enjoying Christmas celebrations with colleagues at the Ramore Wine Bar in Portrush earlier this month when he began to choke.
He was taken to hospital and had been in a critical condition in the intensive care unit at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine before his death on Wednesday.
Mourners gathered at Ballymena Baptist Church yesterday afternoon for a funeral service.
Mr Moore had been attending a function with staff from the IT department at Causeway Hospital where he worked.
Ambulance crews were called to the restaurant shortly before 9pm on Friday December 11 following reports that he was unconscious.
Tributes have been paid online to Mr Moore, fondly known as Ric, including from his football club Wakehurst.
"Everyone at Wakehurst FC would like to pass on their sympathy to the Moore family today as they mourn the loss of Ric," it said.
"Ric has been a keen follower of the club and in particular the Strollers this season and leaves us after a short illness following a tragic accident."
Mr Moore lived in Cloughmills and was well known in the Ballymena and Cullybackey areas.
He was an avid sports fan and a keen follower of the Northern Ireland football and Ulster rugby teams, according to the Ballymena Times.
Mr Moore is survived by his wife Jacqui, parents Kenneth and Noreen, and siblings Jeanette and Nigel.
