Liverpool FC star’s father laid to rest in Aghyaran

The father of one of the football’s fastest rising stars was laid to rest earlier this afternoon following a poignant funeral service in St Patrick’s Church, Aghyaran.

During his Requiem Mass earlier today, Joe Bradley, who passed away on Saturday following a protracted illness, was said to have remained “at the heart of the family home” until his final days.

Best known lately for being the proud father of Liverpool FC wonder-player, Conor Bradley, for most his life Mr Bradley was renowned for running Derg Commercials Ltd, alongside his loving wife, Linda.

When family, friends, colleagues and customers turned out to say their final goodbye to the ‘hard-working gentle giant’, they fittingly did so in the same church where Mr Bradley was both baptised and married.

“Joe had a big heart for family and friends and he was generous to everybody,” Fr Paul Fraser told the congregation.

Mr Bradley was described as a “hard-working man” and somebody who “was committed to good relations”.

Fr Fraser said, “If a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well, and that was the mantra by which Joe lived his life… which somebody today told me was something he learned from his own father, Hughie.”

As well as being committed to his work, Mr Bradley was also said to be somebody that loved people.

“He always looked after his customers and was a man whose word was his bond.”

Acknowledging how Mr Bradley had successfully instilled these virtues in his three children, Fr Fraser said Niall, Conor and Joanne were taught by their father that “it’s people that are important, not things”.

The congregation heard how as work took a backseat in Mr Bradley’s life, family became an even more central part of it.

However, despite how ill he got, it was said that Mr Bradley’s family made it possible for him to live in dignity to the end.

“Joe never became a patient; Joe was always Joe.”