FINAL FAREWELL
Matthew Healy’s dad breaks down in tears as he pays tribute to ‘my buddy and my chief’ who’ll be ‘forever six’
The dad wept as he told of his excruciating sorrow at losing his beloved son
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The child was found unresponsive in the back of a car in Rathmoylan, Co in the early hours of last Friday morning before he was later pronounced dead.
His father James wept as he told them of his excruciating sorrow at losing his beloved son.
He said: “Matthew - it has been the greatest honour in my life and an absolute pleasure to be your Dad. I am so sorry I could not save you, chief. I love you.
“Matthew touched the lives of many. He was a popular little boy at school and much loved by family and friends. His tragic passing has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him.
“It is an incomprehensible loss to his little school pals, friends and cousins who should not know such grief so young.
“We are all utterly heartbroken but so privileged to have known and loved such a wonderful little lad.
"Matthew had a promising future - he was so bright and far beyond his six years. Many thought he was much older than he actually was, particularly when he was so tall.
“I know that he would have grown into a most decent and capable man had he been given the chance. However, now he will be forever six years old.
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“Matthew’s death is an unimaginable tragedy and our hearts will be forever broken. However, we will remember him for who he was and the joy he brought into our lives and we will continue to celebrate his life into the future.”
He added: “To all of you here today, I implore you all to cherish and enjoy your children - do the things that are stone mad all in the name of fun. You will fondly remember it just as I do know (from Matthew).”
Mr Healy said the birth of his son had changed his life in the most beautiful of ways.
He said: “Matthew and myself were like two peas in a pod. He was my little lad, my buddy, my chief. My sister often referred to us as ‘The Dream Team’.
“At the weekends we did everything together whether it was at home, building things out of Lego or DonkeyKong, cycling, swimming or exploring the mountains at home and having fun with his cousins who he loved so, so much.
'Loved music'
"We made the best use of our time together, always. Matthew loved music. We had the tunes pumping out everywhere we went - dancing like two simpletons in the front (of the jeep).
"He loved the beat of the music and loved bands like AC/DC and RamJam.
"In his so very short six years and nearly nine months on this earth, Matthew made an immense impact - he was a very confident and articulate little man who made friends everywhere he went.
"If he didn’t know anyone when he got there they would all know him by his leaving, just like his granddad.”
The grieving father thanked paramedics who responded at the scene last Friday for trying so hard to save the life of his son.
He said: “I would like to thank the guards, first responders, paramedics and medical personnel at University Hospitall Waterford who looked after Matthew in the early hours of Friday morning - I appreciate everything you did to try to save my poor little man’s life.”
Streets lined
The heartbroken dad was among the pallbearers who carried the remains of Matthew in a simple white coffin to his funeral mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill.
Mourners lined the streets as the body was brought from the nearby Healy family home.
James Healy is originally from Millstreet in Cork, but is living in Watergrasshill.
Symbols of the life of the youngster were brought to the altar by two of his uncles and cousins.
These included Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts and Mathew’s cycling helmet. Floral arrangements included ones with teddies on top.
Fr Christy Fitzgerald, parish priest, told the hundreds of mourners: “We are where nobody wants to be today.”
'Overwhelming grief'
“Though springtime beckons, and the daffodils are about 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, it is to the Lord we look for that light and hope today.”
Fr Fitzgerald said that the family wanted to give thanks for all the lives Matthew touched in his six years on this earth, adding: “We pray for you James and all of Matthew’s family, not just today, but for the difficult and sad days ahead, that you, too, will find comfort and hope in God, the source of all life and love.”
He said that Matthew was now in the “loving embrace” of God.
Prayers for family
He continued: “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.”
Fr Fitzgerald was joined at the mass by Fr Liam Power of Ballygunner in Co Waterford.
Matthew lived in Waterford with his mother Ruth Purcell Healy.
The youngster attended Faithlegg National School in Co Waterford where he was a senior infants pupil.
Mourners' condolences
Some of the staff of the school were in attendance as were coaches of the youngster. from Park Rangers AFC in Cheekpoint, Co Waterford.
Matthew lay in repose at the Healy home in Watergrasshill on Monday and Tuesday evening.
Hundreds of mourners lined up outside the house to offer their condolences to Matthew’s father James, the grandfather of the child Tony, his uncles Bill, Dan, and John and aunt Marita as well as to extended family members.
Mourners had been asked to make a donation in lieu of flowers to the Make a Wish Foundation www.makeawish.ie
The young lad was taken to the Island Crematorium following the noon mass today where a private ceremony was held.
Meanwhile, vigils had been held over the weekend in Waterford in memory of Matthew. Over 200 people gathered at St Nicholas Church in Faithlegg in memory of Matthew on Monday night.
School pals' gifts
His classmates brought daffodils and gifts to the altar.
His mother Ruth, 37, appeared before a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Tuesday night charged with his murder
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Ms Purcell Healy was remanded before in custody to appear before the court again on February 20.
Judge Kevin Staunton directed that she receive any medically attention which is required when she is in custody.
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