Funeral details for Matthew Purcell-Healy announced as gardaí probe link to event hours before six-year-old’s death

Gardaí are investigating whether an event last Thursday is linked to the ­circumstances in which Matthew was found dead near a scenic cove in Waterford less than 24 hours later.

Detectives are hoping to receive medical clearance today to question a 38-year-old woman about the precise circumstances in which Matthew died in the early hours of Friday morning.

Arrangements for Matthew’s funeral have now been released, with his requiem mass taking place on Wednesday.

A funeral notice reads: “Matthew James Healy of Watergrasshill, Cork and Ballygunner, Waterford died on the 9th of February 2024 unexpectedly, aged 6 years. Sadly missed by his heartbroken Dad James, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family, neighbours and friends.”

“Fly with the angels,” the message reads, adding details of the funeral arrangements.

Matthew will repose at his home in Watergrasshill, Cork, from 5pm to 8pm on both Monday and Tuesday.

His requiem mass will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Watergrasshill, on Wednesday at noon, followed by a private service in The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.

Matthew’s family have requested family flowers only, with donations, if desired, to be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Matthew's father, James, expressed deep gratitude to the public for attending vigils over the weekend in memory of Matthew. In the statement issued to the Irish Examiner, he also appealed for privacy for the family to mourn.

The 38-year-old woman, who was known to the child, was arrested at Rathmoylan Cove, close to Dunmore East, where the little boy was found unresponsive and soaking wet in his school uniform in the back seat of a parked car. It was initially feared he had drowned but detectives now believe he died an asphyxial-type death.

The woman was found at the scene in a distressed state, and detectives are now examining whether an event earlier on Thursday is linked to her highly emotional condition.

It is understood the woman had been extremely agitated and upset for several weeks over a matter scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

The funeral mass for the senior infants pupil will be held in Watergrasshill, Co Cork, where his father lives. Funeral arrangements will be confirmed only after his remains are formally released back to his family. That is expected to happen from Waterford University Hospital over the coming days.

The woman detained by gardaí has so far not been deemed medically or psychiatrically fit for an interview. She was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, which allows ­gardaí to hold her for questioning for up to 24 hours. However, that detention period can be extended for sleep, meal or medical breaks.

In this case, the woman has required significant medical support and detectives have not, as yet, been able to conduct detailed interviews with her about precisely how Matthew died.

She lives in Waterford city. One source described her as “very vulnerable”.

Locals said she was extremely quiet and private. She does not engage with social media and had previously worked part-time with a charity in Tipperary.

Her family are well-known within Waterford business circles.

It was the woman’s distressed behaviour in the Rathmoylan area outside Dunmore East shortly before midnight on Thursday that prompted a local resident to raise the alarm.

A householder told gardaí a woman was screaming on the roadway that something had happened to a child.

The resident was so concerned they rang gardaí – and offered the phone to the distressed woman, who had been knocking on local doors and windows desperately looking for help.

However, after a few panicked words to the operator she handed the phone back and left the scene on foot.

The worried householder gave directions to gardaí, and a marked patrol car was at the scene within minutes.

When gardaí arrived at the Rathmoylan scene, 20km from Waterford city, the woman was found a distance from a parked car on a narrow laneway leading to Rathmoylan Cove. She was soaking wet and wearing pyjamas and a dressing gown.

Matthew was found lying unresponsive, in his school uniform, on the back seat of the parked car. The little boy received emergency medical treatment at the scene first from gardaí and then from paramedics.

He was rushed to University ­Hospital Waterford (UHW) where, despite the desperate efforts by doctors to ­stabilise his condition, Matthew was pronounced dead at 2am.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on Friday but the preliminary results were inconclusive. His death is now believed to be an asphyxial-type incident and is being treated as suspicious by Waterford gardaí.

The cause of death will now be determined when a full battery of toxicology tests are known.

Matthew’s death has shocked the ­Waterford community, with hundreds attending a special vigil on Saturday night organised by the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Alphonsus Cullinan.

Prayers were also offered for Matthew and his family at masses in Waterford city and county on Sunday.

Dr Cullinan prayed that those who were left mourning by the tragedy would find comfort and solace. “I am so ­encouraged to see so many of you here as we pray together. There is a great strength in that. There is a great beauty in that,” he said.

Matthew was a student at the local Faithlegg primary school, and counselling support is now being provided by the Department of Education for all classmates, friends and families.

Principal Kieran O’Sullivan described Matthew as “a beloved member” of the school community.

The little boy adored sport and had only recently joined local football club Park Rangers, where he played with the under-7s. As a mark of respect, all matches by Park Rangers were cancelled over the weekend.