‘It has been the greatest honour in my life to be your dad’– father of Matthew Healy (6) pays tribute at funeral

Mourners at Matthew's Requiem Mass openly wept as James Healy, in an emotion-charged eulogy to his son, said it was "the honour and privilege of my life to be Matthew's father" and that his death had taken from the world a little boy made up of "pure joy" and "happiness."

Matthew's mother, Ruth Purcell-Healy (37), was charged with the murder of the little boy before a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Tuesday evening - just hours before Matthew's Requiem Mass was to take place in Cork.

The six year old was found unresponsive in a parked car near a Waterford beauty spot and he was pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) at 2am last Friday after desperate attempts by paramedics and doctors to save him failed.

Hundreds attended the Matthew's Requiem Mass today at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watergrasshill in north Cork to pay a heartbreaking tribute to the little boy.

Matthew's father, James Healy, is originally from Millstreet but lives in Watergrasshill and is deeply involved in local community groups.

He sobbed as he spoke of the pain of losing Matthew in a heartbreaking tribute to his son.

"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," he wept.

"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.

"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.

"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 Matthew transformed his life - and the love he felt for his little boy was like being hit by a train.

"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.

"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 ACDC 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."

Mr Healy fought back tears as he thanked the emergency services for fighting so hard to save Matthew.

"I would like to thank the guards, first responders, paramedics and medical personnel at UHW 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."

The mourners were led by Mr Healy and included Matthew's grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family as well as neighbours and friends.

Matthew's Faithlegg national school and his soccer club, Park Rangers, were remembered at the Requiem Mass.

Cork residents, deeply upset by the tragedy, lined parts of the route in silent tribute as the funeral cortege travelled from Watergrasshill to The Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy.

Co-Parish Priest Fr Christopher Fitzgerald told mourners that communities across Ireland were left numbed and heartbroken by Matthew's death.

"We are where no one wants to be today," he said.

"Though springtime beckons, and the daffodils are above 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.

"The story of Jesus and the children is for us a natural story and a lovely relationship. Today too we gather at the beginning of Lent - on Ash Wednesday. Lent recalls the journey that Jesus took to Jerusalem, to Calvary and to His death on the Cross.

"But it didn’t end there: the light and hope for us comes from Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday, Jesus’ story continues and so does ours.

"For Matthew those promises, we believe, have been fulfilled and he now rests in the loving embrace of God himself. Matthew was made a child of God when he was baptised here on December 17 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 U-7s. 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."

The reflection gifts which reflected the things Matthew loved most in life were introduced by his uncle, Dan, who told mourners that the little boy loved to cook with his aunts - and all his family were required to eat the strange concoctions he came up with.

The reflection gifts included Lego cars, jellies, art and crafts as well as Matthew's cycling helmet which were brought to the altar by his uncles and cousins, Bill, Rhys, Colette and John.

Matthew died after being found unresponsive in a parked Renault car at Rathmoylan Cove outside Dunmore East in Waterford in the early hours of last Friday morning.

A post mortem examination was conducted at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and the results of that prompted a Garda murder investigation.

Gardaí arrested a 37 year old woman, who was in a very distressed condition, in Rathmoylan in the early hours of last Friday morning and detained her under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

However, the woman was deemed medically unfit to be interviewed for four days.

She was referred to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) where she received both medical and psychiatric care over recent days.

Gardaí were informed on Monday that the woman was now fit to be interviewed and they began questioning her about the precise circumstances in which Matthew died.

Matthew's mother, Ruth Purcell-Healy (37) of Bishop's Field, Williamstown Road, Waterford was formally charged with the little boy's murder before a special sitting of Waterford District Court on Tuesday evening.

She was charged with the murder of the six year old between February 8/9 at Rathmoylan, Co Waterford.

In response to being asked by a detective if she had any comment on the charge she replied: "No, thank you."

Bail in respect of a murder charge can only be dealt with by the High Court and Ms Purcell-Healy was remanded in custody to appear again before Waterford District Court by video-link on February 20 next.

Ms Purcell-Healy's solicitor, Kenneth Cunningham, said his client intends to apply for bail in the High Court.

Gardaí attended the Rathmoylan scene after a local resident raised the alarm.

They found a Renault car, with Matthew lying unresponsive on the back seat, parked on an access laneway to Rathmoylan Cove.

Matthew was soaking wet in his school clothes when discovered.

He received emergency medical attention at the scene at 1am before being rushed by paramedics to UHW.

Despite desperate efforts by doctors to stabilise his condition, he was pronounced dead at 2am.