The family of a west Belfast man who died from Covid-19 in a nursing home have told of their "horrendous" loss.
John Burns, who was known as Johnny, passed away at Our Lady's Care Home on the Falls Road on Thursday morning.
The 68-year-old father-of-one, who had lived in Turf Lodge, had only been a resident in the home for just over one month when he died.
A bricklayer by trade, Mr Burns, who was a great-grandfather, was knocked down four years ago by a bus on the Falls Road, suffering horrific injuries.
Despite recovering, his family said he had lived with the impact of the collision ever since.
A former republican prisoner, Mr Burns, who had dementia and Alzheimer's, developed a cough at Our Lady's Care Home last Friday, followed by a high temperature the next morning.
A test carried out by the care home for coronavirus came back positive.
On Easter Sunday, when Mr Burns' oxygen levels fell dangerously low, paramedics were called however they were able to stabilise him.
The following day, when he deteriorated again, Ann McConnell said she "begged" the care home to allow her in to see her father, which they eventually agreed to, as long as she wore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Knowing her father's wishes were not to go to hospital, Ann said she refused to allow her father to be taken to the Mater Hospital.
She was then allowed to spend the next few hours with her father and used the opportunity to play his favourite music, tell him how much she loved him and bless him with Holy Water.
The Lagmore woman, who described her dad as "quiet" and "kind" was also able to Facetime some of her father's siblings so he could see them.
Ann spoke to her father for the last time around 6.40am on Thursday, just an hour before he passed away at 7.50am.
She said family had not been allowed to see her father in the funeral home and only 10 members of family will be allowed at Milltown Cemetery today (SAT) where he will be laid to rest.
"It's horrendous," she said.
"He deserves so much more. He has been through so much in his life and it's just horrendous that he can't even have a Mass or funeral. It is just awful.
"One of the last things I said to him was `If you want to go, just go. Close your eyes and go. Don't be holding on for me. I'll be ok'. I didn't want him to suffer any more".
