One of the four young police officers killed in Sunday’s horrific road crash near Warrenpoint was today described as a hardworking and dedicated member of the PSNI.

^{The four officers who died in Sunday’s accident were, from left, James Magee, Kevin Gorman, Declan Greene and Kenny Irvine. The funerals of Constables Magee, Gorman and Irvine will take place today}

The Very Rev Stephen Lowry told hundreds of mourners attending the funeral of Constable James Magee, 27, in Dromore that it had been a “privilege” to know him.

Constable Magee was buried following a service at Dromore Cathedral — the first of three funerals taking place across Co Down today.

Speaking at an emotional service, where devastated family, friends and members of the PSNI gathered to pay their respects to Constable Magee, the Dean of Dromore said: “I need to begin my tribute to James with the phrase ‘James Magee was’ — three words which fill our hearts with heaviness today, yet words which also preface our brief celebration of his young life, his fine character and his quiet faith.

“People speak of his good manners, his endless acts of kindness and his able mind. His colleagues speak of his willingness and enthusiasm for his work. His family speak of his utter loveliness as a son and brother.

“His death has brought to a sudden end many of the hopes that we had for him but it has brought no shame for he died on duty in the prime of life, with everything to live for. We cannot thank God for the manner of the death he died but we must thank Him for the character of the life he lived.”

Dean Lowry added that Constable Magee “continued to seek to improve his qualifications and had recently sat and passed the exams to get into CID, his goal”.

“His parents were told, ‘James was exactly the sort of person we wanted’,” he said.

“People speak of his good manners, his endless acts of kindness, and his able mind. His colleagues speak of his willingness and enthusiasm for his work. His family speak of his utter loveliness as a son and brother. I share your admiration of James, and with the many gathered here today, offer thanks to God for the privilege of knowing him throughout my time here, and the joy of seeing a young man living life to the full with love and respect for God, for his parents, and for his many friends.”

Constable Magee joined the PSNI in 2005 and was originally from Dromore but lived in Newcastle. He is survived by his mother and father, Freda and Bawn, his twin sister, Sarah and his younger sister, Rachel.

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde, and ACC for Rural region Judith Gillespie were among senior police members who came to pay their last respects. Politicians including the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson, Jimmy Spratt and Joe McDonald from the RUC George Cross Foundation also attended.

Meanwhile in Drumaness, mourners gathered at the small church from early this morning for the funeral of Kevin Gorman which took place at noon.

Originally from the village, he lived in Ballynahinch with partner, Debbie, and their four-month-old daughter, Shannyn. Debbie is expecting their second child.

The first people to arrive at Christ the King Church on the Drumsmade Road outside Drumaness this morning were members of the press. Slowly more and more cars parked up on the country road as friends and colleagues prepared to say a final farewell to the much loved 24-year-old father-of-one.

In Drumaness village there was a sombre mood ahead of the funeral. A woman in a local shop who did not want to be name said: “It’s terrible. It’s a very sad day.”

The funeral of Kenneth Irvin, 30, will be held this afternoon at Kilkeel Presbyterian Church on what should have been his fourth wedding anniversary.

Speaking before officiating at the service, the Rev Stephen Johnston told how his family had been left “numb, shocked and devastated”.

“He was a leader of men in many respects — one of the sort of fellows who took the initiative when others might have sat back. His death has caused a huge gap in the community,” he said.

At 1.30pm, mourners were set to arrive in the fishing village of Kilkeel for the funeral of Constable Irvine, who was a part-time member of the PSNI.

Constable Irvine, a married father-of-one, lived and worked in Kilkeel. His widow, Andrea, recently gave birth to a baby boy.

The funeral of Declan Greene, 39, will take place in Massforth outside Kilkeel tomorrow. He is survived by his wife, Roisin, three sons Rory, 19, Darren, 16, and Cormac, 5, and daughter Sophie, 3.