THE funeral of Ballycastle murder victim Anthony McErlain has heard he was a "kind and good-hearted man".
Requiem Mass for the 48-year-old was celebrated on Monday at St Patrick's and St Brigid's Church in the Co Antrim town.
Mr McErlain was found dead at a house in Broombeg View on Thursday January 28.
A 33-year-old man, Christopher Patrick Keenan of no fixed abode, has appeared in court charged with his murder.
Parish priest Fr Brian Daly told mourners that Mr McErlain had been "tragically taken too soon".
He said: "When he was a fit, strong, young man you couldn't have met a harder-working person. The times in McKeague's Concrete in Dunloy were some of the happiest years of his life.
"He worked on the Channel Tunnel and across England and Ireland - you wouldn't have known where he would turn up."
Fr Daly added: "Anthony was an intelligent man. He could hold a conversation with anybody about anything and took a real interest in the world he lived in."
The Ballycastle priest also spoke of how Mr McErlain had experienced the "love of a large and strong family", referring in particular to his sister Rosemary and brother Anthony.
He said: "Rosemary, as much as anyone, knows the pain and suffering which Anthony was inflicted with and was always there for him, travelling from one end of the country to the other to make sure he was safe and warm.
"Aidan was a constant source of strength and support to Anthony, also thinking nothing of travelling from one end of Ireland to the other to make sure he was okay.
"No matter what troubles Anthony was facing personally, he never, ever forgot about the daughter he loved so much. He was always talking about Kerri and wished things could have been different for them."
The funeral was also told that Mr McErlain had "battled against the difficulties which life seemed to throw at him" without losing his sense of humour.
Fr Daly said: "Anthony lived a life of many twists and turns. His journey was filled with many happy and difficult moments. He reached many crossroads but he was a proud man and never failed to get up and try and change the situation he was faced with.
"The family are grateful to all those from every corner of the country who were there for him through the good times and the bad. May he rest in peace."
