Under the coffin, which was half-opened, there was a flower display with a pair of boxing gloves and a funeral wreath which simply said “brother”, and on top there was a picture of him celebrating his medal at the Games in Beijing last year.

The funeral Mass is due to take place this morning with burial afterwards to St Finian’s Cemetery in Navan, County Meath.
 

His friend Nikki Kavanagh has been asked to perform by Sutherland’s family.
 

She will sing all the music at the service including a special song chosen by Sutherland's mother.
 

Among those who turned out for the removal was Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chief executive John Delaney and Eamonn Coghlan, the 1983 world 5,000 metres champion.

Coghlan described Sutherland, who was 27, as a “delightful, bubbly outgoing character who was always positive”.
 

He said his outgoing attitude may have been a “cover for what goes on in one’s head” and sportsmen frequently have to confront big highs and lows.
 

Coghlan said: “When you are training and competing and the public are wishing you well, you’re on a high, but they don’t see the loss of form or the injuries or the loneliness of it all."
 

Tony Sutherland said last week he would speak about his son, but only after the funeral had taken place.


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