'Disbelief' as another boy dies

Patrick Breen played for the Michael Cusacks under-13 team

A second young boy has died while playing sport in County Tyrone. The latest death came as Patrick Breen, 10, was being buried in Drumquin.

It was the fourth death in Ireland in similar circumstances this week, two in Tyrone and two in County Westmeath.

Patrick Devlin, 13, from Ardboe, collapsed during a Gaelic football training session on Saturday morning.

A defibrillator was used at the scene to try to revive him but he was later declared dead at Craigavon Hospital.

Patrick Breen from Dregish near Drumquin died during a GAA training session on Tuesday.

Ulster GAA secretary Danny Murphy said there was "a feeling of disbelief that a second young person had died".

"It is truly tragic for the families, the club people and the young people who were present on both occasions," he said.

"It is really hard to comprehend that young people in their early formative years can die so suddenly."

Colours

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Patrick Breen who suffered from a heart defect.

His coffin was carried into the church covered in red and white flowers, the colours of the County Tyrone team.

GAA members and team-mates who were with him when he died formed a guard of honour.

The parish priest said GAA "was Patrick's love" and he had hoped one day to play for his county.

He said no-one could have foreseen what happened.

The priest said what his team-mates had gone through on Tuesday was traumatic but they should keep playing Gaelic football because that was what Patrick would have wanted.