HUNDREDS of mourners joined a heartbroken family for the funeral of a Royal Navy officer shot dead on a nuclear submarine in Southampton.

Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, 36, from Wigan, a father of four, died after being shot on board HMS Astute when it was docked in the city’s docks on April 8.

Gillian, his wife, accompanied his four children at the funeral service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in his home town yesterday.

Royal Navy sailors in uniform, many colleagues of Lt Cdr Molyneux during his 20 years in the service, lined the street outside as the funeral cortege arrived.

Touchingly Lt Cdr Molyneux’s two eldest sons proudly displayed their own military uniforms; Jamie, 13, wore his Marine cadet’s uniform and his grandfather’s campaign medals, and Arron, 12, wore his own Navy Cadet uniform.

The boys flanked their mother, who clutched the hands of her two youngest children, Bethany, six and three-year-old Charlie, who was wearing a Wigan Warriors rugby league kit.

Veterans from the Royal British Legion gave the funeral cortege a guard of honour, old soldiers, sailors and airmen, standing to attention, as the pine coffin, draped in a Union flag with Lt Cdr Molyneux’s naval cap and a single rose atop, was carried into church by six pall bearers, all friends and shipmates of the officer.

A card inside the hearse, amongst the floral tributes read: “My darling Ian, I will love you always, you will forever remain in my heart until we meet again, sleep well my forever love.”

As prayers were said his son Jamie told mourners: “We pray that Dad will rest in peace and that one day we will be reunited in heaven with him.”

To spontaneous applause, he added: “We pray that dad will never be forgotten, we pray for the crew of HMS Astute.”

Mourners heard from Commander Iain Breck-enridge, RN, the Command-ing Officer on HMS Astute.

He described Lt Cdr Molyneux as “this gentle giant with the mischievous twinkle in his eyes”.

Mrs Molyneux gave her own moving eulogy at the two-hour service.

Her voice breaking with emotion, Mrs Molyneux said: “Ian, this is for every moment we have spent together, every kiss, every embrace, for all the times you were there when I needed you, all the times I was distressed and you calmed my fears.

''For all the times you have understood and supported me, for all the beautiful memories, all the love we shared, for all the little things you have done for me.

“This is from my heart to thank you for everything you have ever done for me, to let you know exactly how I feel about you and all the times I forgot to tell you.

“I will always love you, my forever love.

“Sleep well my darling, rest in peace. I will forever live in the belief you will always walk beside us and I will see you again. God speed.”

Spontaneous applause rang out from mourners lining the street outside the church as the funeral cortege left for a private burial.

• Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, 22, of Hillside Road, Dartford, Kent, has been remanded in custody charged with the murder of Lt Cdr Molyneux. He is also charged with the attempted murder of three other officers.