'Mark lived with passion, humour and good heart': Mourners arrive for funeral of Mark McCullagh-Crichton

Mourners are offering their condolences to the family of Mark before the coffin leaves the church.

On behalf of Marks family the priest thanked all the emergency services in Spain, all that attended and supported at the scene on the morning of June 28.

He said: To the hospital staff in Spain, especially those in the ICU that helped Ian during his time of need.

They wish to extend their deepest sympathy to Marks girlfriend Michaela and sister-in-law Amys family during this hard time and may they find the strength to navigate through this unimaginable time and the weeks that follow.

They would like to thank the funeral directors in Spain for their tender loving care of Mark. They wish to acknowledge Gilsenan Funeral directors for all their support for bringing Mark to his final resting place and to all who travelled near and far to be with them during this time of sorrow and to the wider community for their support over the last 10 days, especially Marks close friends, who have been a pillar of support to the family since receiving the sad news on June 28.

Finally, the family wish to extend their immense gratitude to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust for the support they provided in bringing Mark home.

Mark had a great love for his family, but also his girlfriend Michaela (Newcombe), who was the love of his life.

Although it was short-lived, they lived it to the full. You only have to look at Snapchat, every story was about Michaela, dedicated to the most beautiful girl in Mullingar. That was Mark, the priest said.

Today we gather with hearts that are heavy, broken and full, the priest said. Heavy because the loss of Mark is so deep

Broken because the manner of his death has shaken his family, the town and further afield. When something as tragic as the death of Mark, Michaela and Amy happens

Mark lived with passion, humour and a good heart. The stories come quickly because Mark was unforgettable.

We remember the little boy who when he didnt want to eat his dinner he waited until his mam and dad were not looking and shoved his pockets full of gravy and potatoes and marched out into the field to dump them.

He thought he was a genius until his trousers went into the wash and the pockets were full of hardened potatoes.

We remember the magic in Greenpark Meadows, Mark knocking on doors, tricking people into giving him a euro and then buying penny sweets, hiding them under the pillow and coming home to find Chloe and Paula eating them because the bag had ripped on the stairs.

We remember his love of travelling, first up, best dressed. Even his dogs were part of the adventure. We remember Cosgroves, Mark climbing into the Famine Wheel and Mark getting stuck and coming out with his first tattoo which was really the imprint of the wheel across his belly.

These stories matter. They are not distractions from grief. They are part of our grieving process. They remind us that Marks life was full, rich and deeply connected to the people around him.

Marks journey did not end in Spain. It continues now in the mercy of God, in the arms of Christ who weeps with us and promises us life beyond death.

Today we gather with hearts that are heavy broken and full, the priest said.

Heavy because the loss of Mark is so deep. Broken because the manner of his death has shaken his family, the town and further afield.

The priest welcomed everyone in attendance for Marks funeral.

He shared: I welcome welcome Marks parents Paula and Albert, his brothers Ian, Enda, Kevin, John and Bertie, his sisters Chloe and Jenny, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family and all of his friends.

Today, we gather in sadness and shock and in deep gratitude the gift Mark was and continues to be for each of us. We thank the Lord for the memories of Mark that we have been blessed with.

As we pray at this Mass, we also remember Marks girlfriend Michaela and his sister-in-law Amy, his grandparents Maureen and Kevin McCullagh and Albert and Kathleen Crichton and other deceased members of the McCullagh and Crichton family.

Symbols representing Marks life presented to the altar included his Arsenal jersey, his golf clubs and golf ball, a dog lead used by Marks faithful dog Nova, his sunglasses and his watch.

Mourners have started to gather at the Cathedral of Christ the King for the funeral Mass of Mark McCullagh-Crichton.

Mark was killed alongside his partner Michaela Newcombe and his sister-in-law Amy McCullagh in a horror crash in Malaga, Spain on Sunday, June 28.

Marks funeral Mass is taking place this afternoon, just hours after his partner Michaelas funeral took place in the same cathedral this morning.

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Mourners arrive for Mark's funeral

The town of Mullingar came to a standstill on Thursday morning as hundreds of mourners gathered at the Cathedral of Christ the King for the first of three funerals of three people who tragically lost their lives in a road tragedy in Spain.

Michaela Newcombe, Amy McCullagh and her brother-in-law Mark McCullagh, who were all from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, died when their car plunged 100 feet into a ravine off the A7 motorway in Malaga in the early hours of Sunday morning, June 28.

Marks brother, Ian McCullagh, 35, who was married to Amy, was seriously injured but survived the horror crash. He remains critically ill in hospital in Spain.

On behalf of Michaelas family, Fr Gaffney said they would like to thank everyone for the support they received over the past 10 difficult days.

Fr Gaffney said Michaelas family also thanked all those who travelled to Michaelas removal on Wednesday evening and to the community at large in Mullingar.

They deeply appreciate everyone who has called to the house, sent messages and reached out to the family since the tragic accident, said Fr Gaffney.

They want to say a special thank you to Gilsenan's Funeral Home and indeed the funeral directors too in Spain for their gentle, dignified care of Michaela.

They also want to thank the emergency services in Spain and around the world who attend to horrific accidents every day.

They wish to acknowledge the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, an amazing charity who brings home Irish citizens who lose their lives abroad and their advice and support. They deeply appreciate it in recent days and also to the Department of Foreign Affairs and their staff for their swift assistance and invaluable guidance.

And just to say thanks on behalf of all of us here in Mullingar, to all who have reached out to the family over the last ten days when the tragic news reached us.

Parish priest Fr Phil Gaffney said: "We gather here this morning with heavy hearts, surrounded by a notion of grief, something we never expected to navigate. At any age death is difficult but when a life is cut short, our pain is amplified by the sheer unfairness of it all.

"This tragic accident may have taken Michaela from our sight but it can never shatter the beautiful memories that she created in her short life, the fragrance of her spirit, the echo of her laughter and the light she brought into so many people's lives will remain with us forever."

Heartbreaking tributes continue to pour in from far and wide for the victims of the road tragedy in Spain ahead of their funerals.

Mark has bee praised as an "absolute gentleman", while Michaela was remembered as "beautiful, kind and radiant".

One mourner wrote of Michaela: "Sending my deepest sympathy and condolences to all of Michaelas family. She was such a beautiful soul and is such a great loss to the town, forever loved and missed."

While a mourner penned of Mark: "Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of Mark. May his gentle soul rest in peace and may fond memories bring you comfort and strength in the days ahead gone but never forgotten. Were an absolute gentlemen of a man and never cause nobody problems always remember the chats we had. Fly high youre in a better place now."

[L-R Ian Mc Cullagh, Amy Wallace, Michaela Newcombe and Mark McCullagh]

L-R Ian McCullagh, Amy Wallace, Michaela Newcombe and Mark McCullagh

A second woman killed in the horror two-car smash in Spain will be laid to rest on Friday after Mark and Michaela's funerals today.

Amy McCullagh died alongside Michaela Newcombe and her brother-in-law, Mark McCullagh, when their car plunged 100 feet into a ravine off the A7 motorway in Malaga in the early hours of June 28.

Amy will be laid to rest following a funeral mass in the Church of the Nativity in Ballynacargy on Friday. She will then be buried in Sonna Cemetery following the service.

The heartbroken families of Michaela Newcome, her partner Mark McCullagh and Mark's sister-in-law Amy McCullagh have united in an emotional appeal asking people to support the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which is helping bring their loved ones home after the three were killed in a devastating road crash near Malaga, Spain.

Their grieving families are asking people to support the trust, whose vital work helps return the remains of Irish people who die overseas, giving grieving families the chance to bring their loved ones home.

As the local community continues to reel from the shock of the tragedy, the grieving families have requested that, in lieu of flowers for the funerals, those wishing to show solidarity direct their support towards the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to aid the repatriation process and help bring their loved ones home.