Funeral details confirmed for 'beloved' Manchester councillor
Pat Karney died on 13 October
Funeral details for a 'beloved' Manchester councillor who served for nearly 50 years have been confirmed.
Pat Karney died on Tuesday 13 October at the age of 78, after receiving treatment for cancer.
He played a key part in the city centre's regeneration after the 1996 Arndale bomb, and was a champion of Manchester's iconic Christmas markets.
Throughout the 1980s, he also fought for gay rights, including protesting against Clause 28, which banned local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to him on X, saying: "Pat gave nearly 50 years of his life to serving Manchester.
"He saw the city through some of its toughest times and played his part in the growth and transformation that followed.
"I knew Pat for many years. He loved Manchester deeply and was a tireless champion for the people he represented."
Cllr Karney's funeral will take place at 10am on Thursday 05 November, at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church (The Hidden Gem) on Mulberry Street, followed by a private burial.
The family regrets that due to capacity issues entry into the church for the service is by invitation only for Pat's family, close friends, colleagues and other associates.
The funeral cortege will however be passing through Albert Square around 9:30 am and pausing briefly there in front of Manchester Town Hall and Pat's beloved Christmas Markets for anyone wanting to pay their respects to him, before it continues along John Dalton Street, Ridgefield and Mulberry Street to the church.
Arrangements are also being made to relay the funeral service on the day to anyone gathered outside the church who would like to be there for Pat and his family to support them and to follow the service.
Pat's family have asked that instead of sending flowers, donations in memory of Pat may be made instead to The Christie Charity by anyone who wishes to do so.