Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HUNDREDS TO LINE ROAD FOR WILLIAM’S FUNERAL
Dunlop family prepare to bury racing ace, 32
HUNDREDS of mourners will line a country road tomorrow to bid a solemn final farewell to road racing star William Dunlop.
Just as it was 10 years ago when his dad Robert was buried, Garryduff Presbyterian Church in Ballymoney will be packed inside and out for the 32-year-old’s funeral.
The dad of one’s body was brought home to the Co Antrim town last night as his mum Louise issued an open invitation to friends to their home.
The popular Yamaha rider also leaves behind pregnant partner Janine, daughter Ella and brothers Michael and Daniel.
His cousin Cathy Laverty said the family have been left devastated by the fatal crash.
She added: “The family’s very, very close. My granny and Louise were, as you can imagine, just very shocked. Louise has just lost her son. Normally a parent should never see their child die.
“There’s a state of disbelief at the minute, because it just doesn’t seem real.
“I think my granny has just seen so much success through the Dunlop name and also so much tragedy.
“She’s getting old, she’s 86. She’s seen two of her sons die, and now, right down to her grandchildren.
“My granny is very, very strong with everything she’s been through. I think she just can’t believe it.” William became the latest member of the Dunlop dynasty to die while practising for the Skerries 100 on Saturday.
His dad Robert was 47 when he was fatally injured in the NW200 in 2008 while William’s legendary uncle Joey died in a crash in Estonia eight years previously.
William and Robert will be reunited in the family’s plot in Garryduff with mourners expected from the racing world.
Many queued yesterday to sign books of condolence which had been opened across the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough.
Tomorrow’s funeral comes as Ballymoney continues to pray for another well-known member of its community. Sam Graham, a former mechanic of Joey Dunlop, was seriously injured in a crash on the same afternoon that William died.
A world champion powerlifter, he was airlifted to hospital after being knocked from his motorbike outside Ballintoy on Saturday.
Last night he remained in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital.