Tributes for Matthew as woman held gets medical treatment
Six-year-old found unresponsive in car to be laid to rest this week Rest in peace. God’s arms are wrapped around you
TRIBUTES continued to be paid to the little boy who died in tragic circumstances on Friday.
Matthew Purcell-healy, six, was found unresponsive in the back of a car in the early hours of Friday near Rathmoylan Cove in Dunmore East, Co Waterford.
A woman in her 30s was arrested at the scene and was last night still being held by gardai.
It’s understood her period of detention has been interrupted to allow for a psychiatric assessment and medical treatment.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced for Matthew but details are expected to be released later.
One local described him as “a lovely, quiet, polite little fella”.
He was a senior infants pupil at Faithlegg National School and played on the Under 7s team with Park Rangers AFC.
In a post on its social media page, a club spokesman said: “It is with great sadness that we learned about the tragic passing of one of our players this week.
“Matthew was a member of our U7 squad and will be sadly missed by his teammates and coaches.
“Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this unimaginably difficult time. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.”
Paying tribute to Matthew on social media, one person wrote: “God bless you little man. May you sleep with the angels in heaven.
“God love your family. They must be heartbroken.”
Another added: “His beautiful little face and piercing blue eyes. Absolutely devastating. There’s no words for something as tragic as this.”
While a nother tribute read: “Rest in peace little one. God’s arms are now wrapped around you.”
On Saturday evening, hundreds gathered for special vigils in Waterford in memory of Matthew.
One was held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity where Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan had invited people to attend the ceremony to demonstrate “solidarity and support during this difficult time”.
During the vigil, he said Matthew’s death had “touched everyone” and remarked on conversasoccer tions he had with various parents and grandparents who have been impacted by the tragedy.
Members of the local emergency services attended along with a number of local political representatives.
During the ceremony, Bishop Cullinan prayed “peace would descend on all in attendance and all of Matthew’s family”.
He expressed his hope that the prayers from all in attendance would “touch the hearts of all who mourn”.
Bishop Cullinan also noted that Matthew’s untimely death came shortly after the tragic death of four-year-old Kobi Macharia Dooly in London, whose funeral Mass was held at Holy Cross Church, Tramore, just weeks ago.
Kobi’s father Ben Dooly is a member of a well-known Tramore business family.
TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW SOCIAL MEDIA