There were heartbreaking scenes at this morning’s funeral of the Derry toddler who died in tragic road accident at the weekend.
Two-year-old Ronan McGavigan was killed when he was struck by a car outside his Lone Moor Road on Sunday afternoon.
Several hundred people accompanied his white coffin as it was carried from there, preceded by a horse drawn carriage, to St Columba’s Church in the Long Tower for a Mass of the Angels.
Many residents of the Brandywell area, still numbed by the tragedy, lined the one-mile route along which shops closed as a mark of respect as the cortege passed.
Speaking during the service, Fr Eamon Graham recalled Ronan’s Baptism in the church on 1 February, 2014, and how he had attended a family First Communion celebration there only weeks earlier.
Fr Graham told mourners the tragedy had “touched” many people beyond the city and that Ronan’s goodness would continue and his life would continue to shine.
He said: “It is our belief in our Catholic faith that children who have died are already with God, so we offer this Mass of Angels today as a thanksgiving for Ronan’s life.
“Last Sunday was a lovely, sunny day. It was a great delight to see and hear children playing - yet. In an instant, that day of happiness was turned upside down when Ronan lost his life.
“I know I speak for the family that we greatly appreciate the help the emergency services, the medical people, gave on Sunday but, sadly, it was not enough – but it is appreciated.
“Over the past few days we have come to know the character that Ronan was.
“He was only two-and-a-half years old, yet he was full of love, full of joy with a good helping of rascality.
"Laura told me on Sunday that any time she told him off he would come over and tell her he loved her.
“We know he was a great character who did so much good in his short life.
“I know the family have been overwhelmed by the support, the kindness and the love they have received from friend and stranger alike and that, amidst all this sadness, that help and support has been a very bright light, a light of kindness in the most difficult and darkest of times.
“The unlikely death of Ronan has had a profound effect - it has touched everybody in this city, in this community and far beyond.
“I had a phone call from a friend of mine yesterday on the Shankill Road, of all places. He is involved in the Evangelical Church there and he asked that it be mentioned this morning that everybody in his church on the Shankhill Road prayed for Ronan.
“For some of us, we feel our faith is strong, others may feel their faith is weak or non-existent, but if all of us are to be honest, we question God – we ask ourselves if He is there and if He is does He care.
“That is the question every person, every Christian will ask – but I am not going to stand here an give easy answers, because there are no easy answers.
“But what I can say, without any contradiction, is that the goodness of Ronan’s short life has made a huge difference to many people but, most of all, to you, his family – even in today’s sadness, that goodness will continue and Ronan’s life will continue to shine.”
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