A funeral service took place in Belfast today for a 26-year-old man who was one of the world's longest survivors of variant CJD.
Jonathan Simms was given only months to live when he was diagnosed with the human form of mad cow disease ten years ago.
Jonathan, a talented footballer, first became unwell in May 2001. Initially, doctors thought he had multiple sclerosis, but it was later confirmed as the brain disease variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob.
His family won a court battle in 2003 for the right to use an experimental drug not previously tested on humans.
Following his son's death last weekend, Don Simms said Jonathan had 'grown tired and was unable to fight any more'.
He was laid to rest at Carnmoney Cemetery in Belfast this afternoon following a service at his family home.
