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The daughter of a 'people's hero' volunteer who died helping the city's most vulnerable people at a foodbank said it felt as if her "heart had been ripped out".

Stephen Flannery was dedicated to helping others even though periods of poor health meant life was tough.

The 54-year-old collapsed due to a heart attack at St Gabriel's Church in Yates Street, Dingle, on Tuesday May 14, and despite the efforts of paramedics and hospital staff could not be revived.

His sudden death prompted outpourings of grief and fond memories of the former Metal Box Factory worker and St Martin's High School pupil, who made his mark on the Dingle community he loved.

Speaking at the home of his proud mum, retired florist Lily Flannery, Stephen's family described a music lover who instinctively "stuck up for the under-dog".

(Image: The Flannery family)

His heartbroken daughter, 26-year-old Debenhams worker Cassianne Flannery, was in London with friends when she received the traumatic phone call.

She said: "My phone had been in my bag and I had a voicemail from the Royal [hospital] saying can you ring the Resus Unit regarding your father.

"I rang them back and the woman said 'are you on your own?' I realised then, I watch Casualty and I know what Resus means.

"They said 'we did all we could but he has passed away'. They did do all they could, they were great."

Fighting back tears, Cassianne said: "I just felt like my heart had been ripped out, you know because it's my dad."

(Image: The Flannery family)

Cassianne said she remembered her dad bursting into song at any opportunity, and said she was inspired by a poignant reminder only days after his death.

She said: "Every time my dad would come into the kitchen he would say 'let's sing a song'. I remember one of the last times I saw him he sang Your Song by Elton John.

"On the Friday after he died I had a driving test booked. I had failed it twice and I thought I'm just going to do it, and just before it started Your Song came on and I passed."

Mum Lily, 85, said she found comfort in the fact her son died in the church he did so much to support surrounded by fellow volunteers.

She said: "He could have died alone or in the street, but I am glad it was there."

One of Stephen's four brothers, 57-year-old care home worker Chris Flannery, said: "Our Ste, he was his own man, he was a free spirit. He did whatever he felt like doing. He would not stick to a rule if he thought it was unfair.

(Image: The Flannery family)

"He was always on the side of the underdog; if someone said 'oh don't bother with them' he would bother with them."

Chris said while the rest of his family were obsessed with football, Stephen and his friends were into music, film, photography and fashion and would rather head out into the city making home videos and taking pictures than watch even high-profile matches.

But family and friends said what Stephen mostly felt like doing was helping people with their problems, whether he had known them for years or whether they were complete strangers.

Alan McKinnell, a minister at St Gabriel's, was with Stephen at the food bank when he died.

He told the ECHO: "I have been here about five years and during most of that time he has always been there looking for people to help; bringing them to the foodbank.

"He would go out and speak to the unemployed, the homeless, those with addiction problems. Not everybody wants to use a foodbank even when they have a need to use one, but Stephen would talk to them and persuade them to come in."

(Image: The Flannery family)

Chris said his brother had struggled in recent years with the pressure to meet the Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) requirements, and had taken several jobs that his health made it difficult to do.

He said: "He had been diagnosed with diabetes and lost a lot of weight, but he ended up at this job at a factory picking boxes up off the floor.

"He couldn't do it. He had to apply for jobs every day even when he knew they didn't exist."

But despite his personal struggles Stephen always found time to help those even less fortunate, even visiting homeless people he had met in hospital "because they had no-one else."

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Chris recalled Stephen's long-time love of boxing and said he volunteered on the pads at Golden Gloves gym in Lodge Lane, helping local youngsters with their training.

He also spent much of his time out in the community, and he was especially well known in the Park Road area.

Stephen was described as a man who hated seeing people left alone, and made friends with people from overseas who were new to the city.

Cassianne said: "I had a Muslim man message me who told me he had no friends when he came to the city, but after meeting my dad he has hundreds of friends. He said he was like a brother."

Chris said: "He was like the people's hero. Don't get me wrong he had a temper and was never afraid of pulling you up on something, but he never held a grudge and we were always laughing.

"He was a lovely man my brother."

Stephen's other brothers are Paul, 49, James, 52 and Michael, 50.

Stephen's family asked anyone wishing to pay their respects to make a donation to St Gabriel's Church in lieu of flowers.