Tributes paid at funeral of chess player

The funeral of 19-year-old chess champion Philip Hogarty, who died just hours into the new year when he was struck by a Garda car, was held at a packed St Thomas's Church in Jobstown, Dublin, on Saturday.

The service started with a band playing Mr Hogarty's favourite song, Wake Me Up When September Endsby Green Day.

Offerings brought to the altar during the ceremony included a chess board to mark his love of the game and a silver trophy Mr Hogarty had won in a chess competition. Mr Hogarty was chairman of the Irish Chess Union.

Fr Charlie Hoey, who conducted the service, said Mr Hogarty had made an impact on people "all over the city and all over the country" and "in a short life Philip has left us with a store of memories." He also said the young man's family should be admired for their bravery.

"His family has received so much support and compassion in the last few days and indeed they have also shown great compassion particularly to the Garda Síochána and this should be commended," Fr Hoey said.

Mr Hogarty's mother's partner John Murray offered an emotional thank you to the medical services and the gardaí for their help in their time of tragedy. He was applauded by the large congregation as he left the altar.

Three Garda representatives led by Supt Eamonn Dolan joined local politicians including former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte and Minister of State Conor Lenihan in the church to pay their respects to the teenager who friends and chess colleagues called "one of the most genuine people you could meet".

Mr Hogarty, from Drumcara Avenue, Jobstown, was the first person killed on the roads this year when he was struck by a Garda car on the Blessington Road in Tallaght at 2.30am on January 1st. He had just alighted from a Nitelink bus having celebrated the new year with friends and was walking home when the incident occurred at a section of road currently narrowed for works.

It is believed he may have ended up in the path of the car after jumping over a roadside bollard. The Garda car, in which there were two officers, was not involved in a pursuit at the time. The incident is being investigated by the Garda Ombudsman.

Chief mourners at the ceremony were Mr Hogarty's mother Kay; his father, David Hogarty, sisters Emma (14) and Fiona (2); and Mr Murray.

Chess colleague Paul Leavy described Mr Hogarty as "one of the most down-to-earth, easygoing guys you could ever meet. Philip travelled far and wide for his love of chess and he made many friends along the way. The things Philip loved in life were his family, friends and chess, and his family, friends and chess all loved Philip," he said.

Childhood friend Darren McCabe told the congregation Philip was a "gentleman" who "was always cracking jokes". The ceremony ended with the band playing the song Forever Youngas Mr Hogarty's coffin was carried from the church. A Garda motorcycle escort led the funeral hearse to Newlands Crematorium.