The funeral of four-year-old Tadgh Farrell heard on Friday how it was “only this day last week” that he was “looking forward to the Late Late Toy Show”.
Mourners who gathered at St Mary’s Church in Edenderry were told how Tadgh, who was “so young, so full of life”, was “taken away from us in a way that makes no sense”.
Tadgh and his grand-aunt Mary Holt (60) were killed and the young boy’s grandmother seriously injured in a fatal fire in Edenderry, Co Offaly, when their house was attacked shortly before 7.45pm on Saturday.
“There are times in life when words are useless, and today is one of those times. We gather with broken hearts, carrying a grief that feels way too much,” said Fr Gregory Corcoran.
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He said Tadgh left a mark on his family, his home and the local community, “a mark that time or tragedy cannot erase”.
In a tribute written by his mother, Shannon Farrell, and read out by Fr Corcoran, she said her son was only four years old but “filled a lifetime’s worth of love into those years”.
“You had a smile that could light any room, a laugh that made even the heaviest days feel lighter, and a spirit so bright that everyone who met you felt it.
“You taught us what joy really looked like, you taught us what love really feels like, you taught us how precious every moment can be.
“I love you Tadgh. Rest gently my sweet little boy, my only boy,” she said.
In another tribute read out by the priest, Tadgh’s uncle Dylan said the child had brought “a light that was unmistakable”.
“His time with us was far too short, but the impact he left on our lives will last forever.”
He spoke of Tadgh’s love of dirt bikes, recalling how he would talk about them “for hours”, and described the countless times his nephew would ask to see his bikes.
“Every single time, he just wanted to see the bikes, touch them, fix them, learn about them,” he said, describing his nephew’s “excitement” and “passion”.
Fr Corcoran also prayed for the young boy’s grandmother, Pauline Holt, who remains in hospital for treatment of serious burn injuries, that she will be “back in good health”.
Tadgh’s father, Aaron Holt, was denied compassionate bail to attend his son’s funeral.
Mr Holt (27), who is awaiting sentence for serious drug offences, made an urgent application before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday afternoon.
He appeared via video-link from the Midlands Prison.
The father of three, from Castleview Park, Edenderry, remained silent throughout the contested bail hearing and showed no emotion when the judge ruled on his application.
Opposing the application, State solicitor for Co Offaly Sandra Mahon called Det Garda Joseph Bradley, who testified that Mr Holt was “front and centre” of the drug trade in and around Edenderry.
The garda said there would be fears for Mr Holt and other people’s safety if he were released.
Friday’s funeral came as gardaí carried out searches of a number of houses across two counties, Kildare and Offaly, as part of their investigation into the deaths. Gardaí on Friday also arrested four men in the Midlands Prison on suspicion they were involved in a pre-planned attack in the jail last weekend that may be linked to the fatal house firebombing hours later.
gardaí.
