Hundreds of mourners packed the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill in Co Cork to hear grieving father, James Healy, share a deeply moving tribute to his little boy Matthew at his funeral mass today.
Mr Healy fought to hold back tears as he described his child as “my lad, my buddy, my chief” – and said it was “the greatest honour” of his life to be Matthew’s Dad.
“I am so sorry I couldn’t save you Chief – I love you,” he said, in a eulogy that received tumultuous applause from the packed church.
“When Matthew was born I was completely overwhelmed with emotion and love – it was like being hit by a train it isn’t until you experience this love yourself that you are truly able to understand how incredibly overwhelming it is – I loved him so much and I knew it straight away I had an extraordinary little man on my hands,” he said.
“Matthew was a beautiful child in every way – he had striking blue eyes, blond curly hair, a gorgeous smile and a most infectious laugh – he was pure joy – I couldn’t count the number of times I was stopped on the street by complete strangers commenting on how beautiful he was,” he told mourners.
A final farewell to Matthew Healy, 6, at his funeral in Cork pic.twitter.com/d4E9xXPU9F
— Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) February 14, 2024
“He was beautiful in many ways – Matthew was a very affectionate child but he was full of devilment and a bit of craic right from the word go – he just loved a bit of fun,” he said.
“The night that Matthew passed away, I put on a load of washing before I went to bed and I think it was a joke from Matthew really but when I got to the washing after all of the news and what had happened, I mistakenly dyed every underpants I had pink and if Matthew was here today, he would have you all told individually and collectively that Dad was wearing pink underpants.
During the funeral, Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts, and Matthew’s cycling helmet were brought to the altar by two uncles and two cousins of Matthew.
“In his very short six years and nearly nine months on this earth, Matthew made an immense impact on a lot of ye – 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 the time he was leaving, just like his grandad, Tony.
“Matthew and myself were like two peas in a pod – he was my little lad, my buddy and 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 playing Donkey Kong – which I might add we passed four times – or on the go, cycling, swimming or exploring the mountains home at Curraghcahill [Millstreet] and of course having fun with his cousins whom he loved so, so much – we made the best time of our time together always.
“Matthew loved music, we used to have the radio in the jeep up to the last, pumping out music everywhere we went, dancing away like two simpletons in the front along the road – he loved the beat of the music and adored the likes of AC/DC and Ram Jam.
“We even bought drums last year, a set each because we had to learn together but, unfortunately we never got there – however having no clue of what we were at, didn’t stop him from giving it a try.
“Buddy, I’ll never forget the concerts and festivals we went to and some of the most precious memories are of our Friday night discos at home in the sittingroom – you will be forever remembered through our music.
“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 him and loved him – it is an incomprehensible loss to his little school pals and cousins who should not know such grief so young – we are 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 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.
“Matthew’s death is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts will be forever broken – however, we need not to remember this – 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.
“To all of you here today, I implore you all to cherish and enjoy your kids – do the things that are stone mad all in the name of fun, you will fondly remember it just as I do now.
“Finally, Matthew, it has been the greatest honour of my life and an absolute pleasure to be your dad and I am so sorry I couldn’t save you Chief – I love you,” he concluded.
Fr Christy Fitzgerald told mourners that they were “where no one wants to be” in the wake of Matthew’s tragic death.
“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,” he said.
“Matthew was made a child of God when he was baptised here on 17 December 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. 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 said.
Matthew’s mother, Ruth Purcell Healy, appeared before Waterford District Court charged with the murder of her six-year-old son yesterday.
She was arrested at approximately 18:05pm by Detective Sergeant David Shore of Waterford garda station before being charged with the murder of her son a short time later.
Six-year-old Matthew was found dead in the back of a car at an address in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore East, Co. Waterford on February 9.
The coffin of six-year-old Matthew Healy is shouldered through Watergrasshill to the Church of the Immaculate Conception for his funeral mass. pic.twitter.com/2lWKPbUxga
— RedFM News (@RedFMNews) February 14, 2024