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Hundreds attend funeral of Co Down cousins

Castlewellan - Two cousins died
Castlewellan - Two cousins died

Hundreds of people have attended the funerals of the two teenagers who drowned when their canoe capsized in a Co Down lake.

A joint funeral Mass was held today in Castlewellan near the lake where Rory McAlinden, 18, and his 16-year-old cousin, Claire Steele, died.

The two were found by underwater divers after a ten-hour search of lake waters at Castlewellan Forest Park at 1am Saturday morning.

Rory was an apprentice joiner with a local building firm. Claire was in fifth year at St Malachy's High School in Castlewellan.

Team-mates at St Malachy's GAA Club formed a guard of honour during the service.