Dad praises his 'extraordinary' boy at funeral

The funeral has taken place of six-year-old Matthew Healy in Cork

The father of Matthew Healy has paid tribute to his "extraordinary little man" at the six-year-old's funeral in County Cork.

Matthew was found unresponsive in a car near Dunmore East in County Waterford in the early hours of last Friday.

His mother, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, of Bishop's Field, Williamstown Road in Waterford appeared in court on Tuesday charged with his murder.

At the service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill, James Healy said he and his son were "two peas in a pod".

"I loved him so much. I knew straight away I had an extraordinary little man on my hands," Mr Healy said.

He described Matthew as "my little lad, my buddy and my chief", adding that he was a "pure joy".

"To all of you here today, I implore you to cherish and enjoy your kids, do the things that are stone mad in the name of fun," he told mourners.

"You will fondly remember it, just as I do now."

James Healy (r) carries his son's coffin after the funeral mass on Wednesday

During the service, Matthew's uncles and cousins brought Lego cars, jellies and his cycling helmet to the altar.

Matthew's uncle Dan said the items were "a little sample of the wonderful life of my nephew".

'Overwhelming grief'

Parish priest Fr Christy Fitzgerald said the six-year-old's death leaves his family, as well as the communities in Cork and Waterford, "encircled by pain, sadness and overwhelming grief".

"We are where no-one wants to be today," Fr Fitzgerald added.

He said they came together as a community to pray for Matthew, his family, his classmates in Faithlegg National School and his football teammates.

The mass was followed by a private cremation in Ringaskiddy in County Cork.