Cavalcade of bikers help bring Alan Bonner home
The remains of the late Alan Bonner finally returned to his native Stamullen on Sunday, and the massive turnout of bikes, estimated at 650, plus a large contingent of cars travelled with the hearse on a beautiful Father’s Day.
Sadly it was a day that Alan should have been celebrating with his dad Noel and his daughter Nicole, but it wasn’t to be.
The remains arrived from the Isle of Man and was met at Belfast dock by a contingent of bikes, but when the cortege arrived at the Carrickdale Hotel, it was met by the biking community.
The crowds lined every flyover on the M1, and when the cortege arrived at the Huntsman, the local community turned out in force to welcome its fallen son. It was a sad occasion, but yet the crowd clapped heartily as the hearse and bikers arrived.
Alan will be buried today (Tuesday) following funeral mass in Stamullen. The family have thanked everyone for their messages of sympathy.
The inquest into the death of the late Alan Bonner took place in the Isle of Man and the court heard that the 33-year-old plasterer from Stamullen died from head and chest injuries after crashing during a practice session for the Senior TT.
Alan was killed in an incident at the 33rd milestone on the TT course when he crashed on the oil from a machine that had blown its engine seconds before the NW racing rider approached the ultra-fast 33rd.
The Coroner of inquests John Needham opened and adjourned the hearing.