The people of Limerick came in their hundreds to bid farewell. He was due to be removed from Thompson's funeral parlour on Thomas Street at 7pm, but at 7pm, they were still arriving, queuing out and down the street and, after paying their respects, standing outside, waiting, as the temperature dropped to near freezing.

There was a stir at the top of the street and flags raised high on poles appeared and beneath them, and behind them, the boys of the CBS pipe band, marching in step. Elevenyear-old Mark joined the band two years ago and was a snare drummer. He drummed with them when they led the parade through the city to Thomond Park on 12 January for the last match at the ground, against Leicester. His mother, Lisa, carried the banner at the head of the parade that day.

Mark was to drum with the band in Barcelona on their biannual trip abroad next October. Now, his fellow drummers and pipers marched for him, in their Royal Stewart tartan kilts and Glengarry hats and sporrans.

Following behind were their parents, wearing matching tartan sashes. They had been asked to accompany their sons this evening.

The band led the hearse to the Dominicans church on Glentworth Street, playing a medley of slow airs: The Minstrel Boy, The Dawning of the Day, Amazing Grace. Songs Mark had played with them, but now they were being played at half time. Down Catherine Street and onto Glentworth Street, traffic queued quietly at crossroads as the mourners filed past.

The church was filled, brimming out at the back. Mark's bandmates placed his Glengarry hat on his coffin. Afterwards, they drifted back to their clubhouse at CBS Sexton St.

The band was started by the Christian Brothers in 1963 as an activity for those who didn't hurl - the school is famous for hurling.

They practise two nights a week and learn to march to army commands as Gaeilge, and the boys have ranks. Mark would have been in line to be an officer, says Eimear Purcell, one of the band's volunteer assistants.

Noel Whyte, aged 10, was Mark's classmate in fifth class and a band colleague. "He was good at the drums, " says Noel. "He supported Manchester United. He liked art."

Shyly, Noel says he will miss Mark. Noel wrote a poem for Mark (with the help of a teacher), which was displayed on his coffin.

"A talented musician, and artist to the end, " was its chorus. "There's a drum here with no one to play it, " says Eimear Purcell. "We really will miss him."

Frank O'Neill, Mark's grandfather, is well known and liked locally as a youth soccer referee. Niall Carey, a friend for many years and neighbour, says the O'Neills are "a wellrespected family". Of the community, he says, "Everybody is numb. It hasn't sunk in.

Everybody is devastated."

The O'Neill's neighbours were reluctant to talk, other than to commend the O'Neills as "a lovely family". "It's too raw, " said one.

There was much criticism of the way the media had reported on the tragedy this week.

Media reported on Friday that a garda investigation into Mark's death was underway.

"The family don't want to open their paper and read that, " the woman said.