Father of stab victim Kobi, 4, pays tribute to ‘beautiful boy’
A GRIEVING father whose young son died after being stabbed last month told mourners at his funeral Mass he was truly ‘blessed’ to have had ‘four years and three months’ with his precious child.
Keziah Macharia, 41, has been charged with murdering her son Kobi Macharia Dooly in London on December 20, 2023.
Police were alerted to concern for the welfare of Kobi by his father Ben Dooly, from a well-known business family in Tramore, Co. Waterford.
Within minutes of the emergency call, officers forced their way in to the Hackney home of Ms Macharia. They found Kobi lying in his cot, and he had sustained stab injuries.
The child was rushed to the Royal London Hospital where he died shortly after midnight on December 21. His father made the decision to bring his son back to Ireland for burial. Speaking yesterday at the Holy Cross Church in Tramore, Mr Dooly said that he and young Kobi adored each other.
He added: ‘My little boy is beautiful. I’m actually blessed to have had Kobi in my life for four years and three months.
‘I’ll always cherish that. Kobi is the strongest little boy I have ever known and we are all going to be strong with this. He is looking down on us right now.’
Mr Dooly continued: ‘In times like this people will think that they’ll actually question faith and whatnot. For me it’s made me stronger.
‘It’s obviously the hardest day but I know my little boy is looking down on me. He is giving me signs and I thank him for that. ‘
The grieving father had walked directly behind the cortège to the church followed by his extended family and hundreds of mourners.
The name ‘Kobi’ was written in red and blue crayon on the side of the white coffin in the hearse. In the church, a framed picture of a smiling Kobi was placed at the altar. Fr Richard O’Halloran told mourners: ‘It is Kobi himself that is holding the family together and allowing them to be strong and dignified.’