'Liam will not be forgotten'

Family and fans mark tragic Busby Babe's 90th birthday

- SEAN MURPHY

THE family of tragic Busby Babe Liam Whelan gathered with dozens of football fans in the capital yesterday to mark what would have been his 90th birthday.

Manchester United star Liam was only 22 when he and 22 others died in a plane crash in Munich 67 years ago on February 6, 1958.

His brother John, 83, and sister Rita, 88, were joined by United supporters as they said prayers at the Liam Whelan Bridge in Cabra, which was unveiled by late teammate Bobby Charlton in a naming ceremony in 2006.

John told the Irish Daily Star that it was important to the family that Liam is remembered and praised the fans who had travelled to be there.

One of the organisers, Pat Meehan of the MUFC Dublin supporters' club, said: "It was a lovely occasion to mark Liam's birthday, especially for Rita and John. The bridge was decked out in United flags.

"We had people here from the north of Ireland, the UK, Dundalk, Maynooth, Dublin and all over."

Pat lays a wreath at Liam's grave in the St Paul's section of Glasnevin Cemetery every year on the anniversary of the Munich air disaster.