Hundreds say farewell to murdered local man

Hundreds say farewell to murdered local man

10 October 2012 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

HUNDREDS of mourners brought a rain soaked Seaforde to a standstill on Friday.

The grim conditions did not deter the many who wanted to pay their last respects to a man whose life had been tragically cut short.

Forty-seven year old David Mills, a father of two from Dundrum, and a former Irish League footballer, was killed outside a takeaway restaurant in Ballynahinch on September 30.

As the funeral cortege made its slow passage into the village from Clough on Friday afternoon more mourners stood outside than could be fitted into Loughinisland Parish Church.

A painter and decorator, Mr. Mills was also a keen sportsman and among the mourners were well-known faces from the world of local sport. Included was Portadown manager Ronnie McFall, acknowledging Mr. Mills time with the league winning side.

Mr. Mills, son of the late Ronnie Mills, is survived by his mother Gwen, his children Kelly and Ethan, brother Alan and sister Elaine.

In a tribute read out on behalf of the family at the funeral service, they said it had become apparent to them in the past few days “how well he was liked and respected throughout the whole community”.

Reflecting on his earliest years at Spa Primary School and Ballynahinch High School to the setting up of his painting and decoration business, Mr. Mills’ devotion to his family, especially to his children, was emphasised.

“David was a larger than life character and each of us who know him well have our own memories of him,” the tribute read.

The family spoke of how Mr. Mills played for Portadown when the team won its first Irish League Championship in 1990, and how he was a member of the team which lifted the league and cup double a year later.

“David was proud to have played for Portadown...proud to be on a league winning side,” the tribute read.

As well as playing and managing Drumaness Football Club, his contribution to local cricket was also highlighted.

“David played for the Drumaness team last weekend and helped them to secure an important victory,” his family added.

The Revd. Stuart Burns, who officiated at the service, said Mr. Mills’ life had been cut short in a “shocking and dreadful way” but that it was “the quality of his living that counts much more than the quantity”.

“In God’s scheme of things, real value and richness is often found in small things — the mustard seed, the salt grain, the pearl — all these are symbols of God’s kingdom,” he said. “We who are here today to mourn David know very well that a huge amount of activity, goodness, love and life lived to its fullest were all packed into David’s 47 years.

“We remember that God the Father also lost his son Jesus, and also in an unjust and violent way, and we are therefore certain that the Lord understands only too well the grief and pain that David’s loved ones and close friends feel at this time.

“God promises that the flooding torrent of grief and darkness, though fierce, will not consume us or wash us away, and that a time will come in the future when we shall emerge from this time, feeling stronger.”

Reading from Isaiah and Romans, Revd. Burns said the message was that God’s love could enable a response to such an atrocity in ways “both surprising and also redeeming”.