Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to alleged murder victim Daniel McMullen at his funeral.

Mr McMullen, 29, of Beech Court, Workington, died after being found injured at his home on January 7.

St Michael’s Church was full to near capacity as family and friends gathered to reflect on his life.

Mr McMullen leaves an older brother Steven, who carried his coffin into the church with his friends to Clean Bandit’s song Rockabye , and twin Andrew.

Adorning his coffin were flowers shaped like a snooker table and a darts board, two of his passions, and the Rev Canon Bryan Rowe said Mr McMullen was being laid to rest wearing his beloved Manchester United football shirt.

Canon Rowe, who led the service, said: “Daniel was a remarkable young man, if the numbers of people who have gathered here to give thanks to God for his life are anything at all to go by, the number of flowers at the house, the tributes to him on Facebook.

“His passing was sudden and unexpected. It has left lots and lots of people in the community and the family feeling numb, feeling helpless. It is a time of tears and sadness.

“We are all left with a host of questions, most of them starting with why, how and if.”

Canon Rowe said Mr McMullen got on well with children because he had never really grown up and was a child at heart.

He added: “Daniel was a true Workington lad.

“He was an ardent Manchester United supporter, so much so that he is wearing his beloved MU shirt right now because he loved that game with a passion, but then he loved people with a passion.

“He was without doubt an entertainer, the life and soul of any party, and there were many, many parties in his life.

“Family and friends, you meant a great deal to him.”

Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd , was read and the hymn Morning Has Broken was sung.

The service was followed by interment at Salterbeck Cemetery and a wake at Workington’s Royal British Legion, where Daniel was a regular and played on the snooker and darts teams.

Donations can be made to Macmillan Cancer Support, via John Sandelands Funeral Directors.

A man has been charged with Mr McMullen’s murder.

Calvin James Patrickson, 22, of Newlands Gardens, appeared before a judge at Carlisle Crown Court on January 11 and a provisional trial date was set for June 26. He was remanded in custody until his next hearing.

He was not asked to enter a plea.

A second man was also arrested in connection with Mr McMullen’s death and was released on bail until February 17.

The 24-year-old, of Workington, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

  • The News & Star attended the funeral with the permission of Mr McMullen’s family.