TEARS and laughter encapsulated the final farewell to talented musician Michael Cullen as mourners at his funeral heard how his "legacy will never stop".
Heartbroken family and friends paid tribute to the north Belfast man whose body was recovered from Cave Hill Country Park last week following a high-profile search.
Hundreds of people packed into Sacred Heart Church in north Belfast where priest Fr Gerry Cassidy described that "whatever was troubling" Mr Cullen, "he is now away from that and at peace".
The remains of the 33-year-old from the North Circular Road were found last Wednesday, more than three weeks after he disappeared.
Hundreds of people had taken part in searches, appeals and a social media campaign in a bid to find Mr Cullen.
The search investigation involved mountain rescue teams, volunteers, police helicopter, drones and specialist search dogs.
The Ulster University employee was an established beatboxer who had performed to audiences all over the UK in cities including London and Dublin.
There were emotional scenes today as Mr Cullen's life-long friends, who had all attended Park Lodge Primary School and St Malachy's College together, gathered at the front of the church to recall their precious memories of him.
Friend Niall Mellan read a poem written specially for the musician, who was known as 'Cull' to pals and who was described as the "best listener".
"You have decided to move on, to ease the tiredness and the pain, rest assured you filled us all with so much joy, our lives will never be the same," he said.
"But we will see shortly again my brother, we will pick up where we left off. Band of brothers from the beginning, band of brothers to the end, I can't wait for our next hug man.
"We are jealous of the angels, but your legacy will never stop, know that we all love you Cull."
In a tribute read by Fr Cassidy, Mr Cullen's mother Rosemarie described her son as "very happy, chatty and adventurous".
"He took his role as oldest brother and son very seriously, giving good advice to his mummy and daddy, sister and brothers," he said.
"He was a very good judge of character and very wise and honest."
The priest also told how Mrs Cullen said her son "loved beatboxing and singing and got great pleasure from his performances".
"Michael was a most kind, polite, sensitive and loving young man to his family, friends and strangers," he said.
"He is at peace now and is waiting to beatbox for us in the next world and we will see him soon."
But Fr Cassidy also told mourners that while Mr Cullen was "happy and enthusiastic about life", he had suffered from "deep depression".
"Michael died in the late spring of his life," he said.
"In the darkness of the mind, where no light shines, decisions are made that none of us can understand and we are left devastated.
"The pain of grief and loss takes over.
"The shock that Michael was struggling with deep depression - the opposite of what people had known, that happy, go lucky, joyful, singing, playing music...but Michael is at peace.
"Whatever was troubling him, he is now away from that and at peace."
