Town’s grief as murder victim is laid to rest

By Margaret Canning – 21 December 2009

Portstewart came to a standstill on Saturday for the funeral of man murdered outside a pub in the seaside town.

Trevor Spiers (28) died in hospital after he was assaulted outside Shenanigans in the town in the early hours of last Sunday.

Hundreds of mourners followed Mr Spiers’ coffin from his aunt’s home in Central Avenue to St John’s Church in Agherton. Many shops closed their doors as the funeral passed as a mark of respect.

The journey gave the man’s many friends an opportunity to help bear his coffin. His friend Michael Black, who escaped with injuries in the same assault, acted as one of the pallbearers.

After the service, Mr Spiers’ family went to the scene of his death to pray and lay flowers.

The funeral came two days after four men appeared in Ballymena Magistrates Court in connection with the murder.

Police have made a new appeal for witnesses to the assault to come forward.