SOCCER and rugby clubs will provide guards of honour at the funeral of one of their former stars who was fatally assaulted in Limerick City last week.
Alan Bourke, (48), a native of St Mary’s Park, was found with serious head injuries on Colbert Station pedestrian plaza, off Parnell Street, around 10.25pm on Good Friday.
He was taken to University Hospital Limerick where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
A former manager with a tool and machinery hire company, Mr Bourke was a rising soccer star in Limerick in the 1990s and capped for the junior Republic of Ireland squad.
A striker with Mungret Regional and Star Rovers soccer clubs, he also lined out for St Mary’s and Shannon rugby clubs.
His remains will repose at Cross’s Funeral Home tomorrow (Thursday) from 5 to 6.30pm. He will be buried in Castlemungret Cemetery on Friday, after Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Church at 11am.
Gardaí have said that for operational reasons they will not release the results of a post mortem examination performed by the State Pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis.
They have also declined to comment on whether or not they are looking to question one person or a group of people about the fatal assault.
Appealing for witnesses, a Garda spokesman said: “Any person who was in the Parnell Street, Lord Edward Street and Davis Street areas of Limerick on Friday, April 15 between 10pm and 10:40pm, who may have camera footage of the area is asked to make this available to Gardaí.”
“Similarly, if any road user was travelling in the area and who may have camera (including dash cam) footage is asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.”
“Any person with any information which may be relevant to the Garda investigation should contact Roxboro Road Garda Station on 061 214 340, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
“No arrests have been made at this stage, investigations are ongoing,” the spokesman added.
Pre-deceased by his mother Christina, Alan Bourke is survived by his father Mike, sister Diane, brother Barry, and son Matt.
