Garda inquiries continue as Limerick fatal assault victim buried

The coffin of fatal assault victim Alan Bourke is shouldered out of St Maryโ€™s Church, Athlunkard Street after his funeral Mass

A LIMERICK father who died after being assaulted last weekย was remembered at his funeral today (Friday) as having led a โ€œgreat sporting lifeโ€ culminating in playing soccer and rugby for Ireland.

48-year-old Alan Bourke from St Maryโ€™s Park was found fatally injured at Colbert Station Plazaย in Limerick City, around 10.25pm, on Good Friday, April 15.

Itโ€™s understood he sustained a fatal blow to his head, however Gardaรญ have โ€œfor operational reasonsโ€ declined to release details of a post mortem conducted by State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis.

No arrests have been made, and Gardaรญ have declined to comment on whether or not they are looking to question one person or a group of people in connection with the fatal assault.

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Mr Bourke was regarded as a top class sportsman, excelling at soccer, rugby and handball, Fr Gerard Oโ€™Leary, parish priest St Maryโ€™s Church, told mourners.

His soccer boots and his international and club jerseys, were laid together beside his coffin.

โ€œThere are symbols and elements of his great sporting life here on the altar with him, and it is an amazing feat of what he accomplished in his young life,โ€ said Fr Oโ€™Leary.

Reading a tribute from the Bourke family, Fr Oโ€™Leary said: โ€œAlan was the eldest of three children. He was a typical boy growing up in St Maryโ€™s Park, and all the time he was playing sport – soccer, rugby and handball. ย Every time you met him he would either be going to play a match or heโ€™d be training.โ€

โ€œAs a young boy and teenager he won lots of cups and medals, and any time he would arrive home with his latest trophy, he would show it to his proud parents, especially his late mother Chris, who would then visit his aunts and uncles and relatives and neighbours and friends to tell them โ€˜my Alanโ€™ has won another trophy.

โ€œThis passion for sport continued through his teens which led him to being capped for the Irish U-18 rugby team, having played for St Maryโ€™s RFC and then the Shannon rugby senior team.

โ€œHe joined Mungret Regional Football Club, winning a Munster Junior Cup in 1994. They were FAI Junior Cup finalists in 1996, and the same year he was capped for the Irish soccer team.

โ€œAlan was always jolly and in great form, he had the gift of the gab, he was a fun-loving, outgoing, cheeky chappy, who would always see the funny side of everything. So, it is with these thoughts that we will remember him.โ€

Representatives from local sporting clubs, friends, and neighbours attended the funeral mass.

Fr Oโ€™Leary told mourners: โ€œItโ€™โ€™s a very sad day for all of you gathered here for Alanโ€™s funeral. Let us leave behind the bits and pieces of the last week and maybe just focus on himself and think of him and pray for him that now he is at peace.โ€

Pre-deceased by his mother Christina, Alan Bourke is survived by his father Mike; sister Diane; brother Barry, and son Matt.

Heย was laid to rest in Castlemungret Cemetery.