‘OVERWHELMING GRIEF’ | 

Death of Matthew Healy (6) ‘leaves us all encircled by pain’, mourners hear at funeral

“Though springtime beckons, and the daffodils are above ground, Matthew’s death leaves us all encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief.”

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Mourners at the funeral mass of Matthew Healy heard that his death “leaves us all encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief”.

Family and friends gathered for the funeral mass of the six-year-old this afternoon at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill, Co Cork.

Matthew’s father, James Healy, addressed the congregation for his son’s funeral.

Matthew was discovered unresponsive on the back seat of a parked Renault car near Rathmoylan, outside Dunmore East in Waterford.

Despite efforts by doctors to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead at 2am last Friday.

Fr Christy Fitzgerald, Co-Parish Priest told mourners: “We are where no one wants to be today.

“Though springtime beckons, and the daffodils are above ground, Matthew’s death leaves us all encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief.

“We seek light to give us hope, to point us in a better direction, to lift some of the burden that grief brings and though for some, faith may be severely challenged and tested at this time.”

During the mass mementos of Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts and Matthew’s cycling helmet were brought to the altar by his uncles and cousins.

Tributes were paid by members of the six-year-old’s Faithlegg school and Park Rangers soccer club, as well as members of the emergency services.

Fr Fitzgerald said mourners gathered on the first day of Lent – on Ash Wednesday – and in the same church where Matthew was baptised on December 17, 2017.

“He was welcomed into God’s loving family. The promise and hope made to all of us in Baptism is that all our lives’ journeys begin and end in God,” said Fr Fitzgerald.

“We believe that Matthew rests now in God’s loving arms, he is forever young with God.

“We do what we do best at this time. As a community we come together to offer support, share our condolences and prayers.

“We pray for Matthew’s parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended family.

“We are very mindful of Matthew’s classmates from senior infants in Faithlegg National School, his teammates in Park Rangers under 7’s.

“We journey with you all in faith, in hope and love, and we assure you of our prayers especially this Lent.

“May God’s peace touch your broken hearts, may He surround you in His great love and may Matthew rest in his eternal peace,” he added.

Matthew’s funeral will conclude with a private ceremony at The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.

Ringaskiddy and District Residents Association have asked local families to line the funeral cortege route to pay a silent tribute to the senior-infants pupil.

The youngster’s family have asked that mourners make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation instead of sending flowers.

The funeral takes place after his mother Ruth Purcell Healy (37) of Bishopsfield, Williamstown, Waterford city was charged with murder on Tuesday.