Community is in shock following death of toddler

PEOPLE throughout Clonroche and Glenbrien are still in shock this week following the tragic death of 15-month-old boy at his home.

The accident occurred on Tuesday when the toddler, Sé Joyce, died as a result of injuries he received following a fall at his home in Clonroche.

A son of Padraig Joyce and Brenda Quirke, his parents are two of the most respected people in the community.

It’s believed the youngster was playing at his home when he fell down the stairs and the people of Clonroche have rallied around the couple since the devastating accident occurred.

The death of any child causes devastating heartache for the parents, relatives and friends left behind and there has been a palpable air of grief around the village of Clonroche in the wake of the incident which occurred around lunchtime.

Such was the impact on the people in the locality and the shock felt by the sudden and unexpected nature of little Sé’s passing that all sporting and social events in the area were immediately cancelled as a mark of respect to the family.

Sé was the youngest of four children and his death has shocked the entire community.

Local councillor John Fleming said the incident has numbed everyone in the village and surrounding areas.

‘It’s absolutely terrible,’ he said.

‘It’s an awful thing for any family to go through,’ he added.

‘ There is a dark cloud over the village as a result of this; it’s just a terrible thing to have happened.’

Cllr Fleming said that as a mark of respect to Sé and his family local sports events were cancelled following the accident and this was reflective of the high esteem in which the family is held.

As is protocol in the case of any sudden death the gardai in Enniscorthy went to the scene of the accident.

However, a spokesperson expressed sympathy to the family and said the toddler’s death was the result of an ‘unfortunate accident’.

The gardai have compiled a report into the accident for the county coroner.

The high regard in which is family are held was underlined by the large amount of mourners who gathered in St Clement’s Church, Cloughbawn, for Sé Requiem Mass on Saturday, and burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

He is survived by his parents, Padraig Joyce and Brenda Quirke, his sisters, Abbie and Isabel, brother, Ben, grandparents, Larry and Connie Joyce, and Pat and Mary Quirke, aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.