Funeral service held for Acting Sergeant-Major Declan ‘Doc’ O' Connell in The Curragh, County Kildare

The funeral service for the late Acting Sergeant-Major Declan O' Connell was held today in The Curragh.

Sgt-Maj O' Connell, also known as 'Doc', was 54 years of age when he was tragically killed in a skydiving accident whilst off duty in Spain on Sunday, February 12 last.

He was due to marry his fiancée, Audrey, in May of this year.

Scores of people from his personal life, in addition to a large number of his fellow Defence Forces (DF) colleagues, turned up to pay tribute to Doc at St Brigid's Church this morning.

The service was led by Fr John McDonald, in addition to Fr PJ Sommers and Head Army Chaplain Fr Paschal Hanrahan.

Doc's coffin was led into the church by pall-bearers from the DF, and was draped in the tricolour.

At the start of the service, Fr John McDonald directed prayers towards Doc and his family and friends, with particular reference to Audrey and Doc's daughter Niamh.

He added that the DF 'was like a second family' to Doc, and also thanked Brigadier General Brendan McGuinness and The Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) of the Defence Forces and President of Defence Forces Parachuting, Major General Adrian Ó Murchú for their attendance.

Maj Gnl Ó Murchú also took part in a reading at one point during the Mass.

A number of treasured items that belonged to Doc were presented before the congregation — these items included: his military medals, his Sarsfields GAA jersey, his Newbridge Town jersey, his Liverpool jersey, his Leinster Rugby jersey, his parachute logbook, his guitar, and his Sgt Maj's drillstick.

Fr Sommers then said about Doc: "Each of us are God's precious child, and we give thanks to God for the gift of Declan."

He added that while it can be easy to be reminded of our 'simpleness' in the presence of God, he emphasised that God 'loves each one of us, beyond our wildest dreams.'

Fr Sommers also recalled some advice given to Doc from the late Lt Gnl Dermot Earley (Senior), which inspired him greatly.

The late soldier recommended to Doc five guidelines for living a happy and fulfilling live: 'always prioritise your family, work hard, exercise, give back to the community and have faith.'

Upon hearing this advice, Doc said: "That's my goal, that's my mission."

He went on to say that family was indeed of huge importance to Doc, and said that his daughter 'was the apple of his eye.'

"He was a highly trained and professional story, and for so many people, he was loving and caring; a rock," Fr Sommers said.

In addition, Fr Sommers pointed to Doc's time as an instructor in various fields within the DF, adding that he was always 'firm but fair' with his students, and compared him to a comet 'blazing across the sky that lights up everything, a huge ball of energy which sadly burned out.'

Fr Sommers also told the congregation: "At Death, for you, life does not end: it is changed."

"Sgt Maj O' Connell, stand down, duty done, may you Rest in Peace," he concluded.

Following a reading by certain family and friends, in addition to a eulogy by one of Doc's closest friends, Eamon Lawlor.

He said that he was 'wonderfully proud and humbled' to be able to speak on behalf of Doc's family.

Mr Lawlor thanked a number of people, including: Luke Boland of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ciara Walsh of the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid, Brig Gnl McGuinness and Maj Gnl Ó Murchú.

He also thanked Fr Sommers for his 'empathy and support' towards for his family during such a hard time, and noted that certain attendees had travelled from over the border in Northern Ireland to pay their respects to Doc, and noted that the family had received messages of condolences from people in a number of countries, including Kosovo, New Zealand, Germany and South Africa.

Mr Lawlor further thanked the various teams that Doc was apart of.

He then read out a letter from President Michael D Higgins, who noted that Doc joined the DF on February 14, 1990, along with another group of young soldiers dubbed 'The Valentine's Boys.'

The President also noted Doc had taken part in nine peacekeeping missions and commended him on his parachuting and mentoring skills.

Mr Lawlor said that his late friend was a huge fan of music, and remarked that they first met when he was singing a song in their quarters, and Doc, from another room, overheard it and decided to join in.

"I thought it was an echo at first... that the room had some good acoustics!" he remarked.

He also joked that Doc had a legendary status among friends, family and DF colleagues, and even sang a song about himself, which went: '6ft 2 and eyes of blue/Doc O' Connell, we love you.'

"Doc was actually 6 ft, we know this because we got out the measuring tape... but Doc being Doc, he would add on a bit more," Mr Lawlor added.

He also said that Doc's daughter Niamh was 'his last thought at night and his first thought in the morning,' and remarked how similar she was in personality to her father, 'like two peas in a pod.'

Mr Lawlor concluded by calling his friend 'a great soldier, a born leader and a family man', before asking the congregation to give a final tribute to Doc's memory, which led to a rapturous round of applause.

The Mass for Doc also featured songs such as 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and 'Wonder Child', in addition to traditional military bagpipe music.

Acting Sgt Maj Declan 'Doc' O' Connell is survived by his cherished fiancé Audrey, beloved daughter Niamh, loving parents Mary and Iggy, sister Denise, Audrey's daughter Aisling, brother-in-law Thierry and his extended family.