A FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy who was due to start in junior infants class this week was laid to rest yesterday in his school uniform after he was knocked down by a lorry near his home in Cork.
Kelvin Purcell O’Callaghan was playing with a skateboard near his home at the Ardcullen estate in Knocknaheeny, Cork city, shortly after 1pm last Friday when he was hit by a lorry delivering coal. He died at Cork University Hospital after a five-day battle for survival.
It is understood the youngster, who was due to start primary school last Monday, was lying on his skateboard and obscured from the view of the lorry driver.
This is the second tragedy to hit the Purcell-O’Callaghan family. In 2000 Kelvin’s parents Elizabeth and Jonathan lost their five-year-old son Daniel in a house fire at their home in Ardcullen.
At Kelvin’s funeral mass in Knocknaheeny yesterday, his aunt Brenda Purcell, speaking on behalf of the family, said they would never forget the happiness the four-year-old brought to his loved ones in his short life.
“He was a clever and fun-loving child. Anyone who knew Kelvin knew that. He put up a fight to stay with us in hospital, but as he was a small young boy he could not stay any longer. You [Kelvin] are going to be missed so much. For the years Kelvin was with us he could not have wished for better parents. They wouldn’t give up on Kelvin. [Kelvin’s mother] Elizabeth has been through a tough time twice and she is holding strong for all of us.” Ms Purcell said she wanted to make it clear that what happened to Kelvin was a “tragic accident” and that the family in no way held the driver of the delivery lorry responsible for the boy’s death.
Knocknaheeny parish priest Fr Patrick Fogarty said the loss of two children was an unimaginable tragedy for any family. However, he told the congregation at St Mary’s on the Hill Church in Knocknaheeny yesterday that he had been astounded by the compassion that Elizabeth and Jonathan had shown towards the driver of the lorry.
“This is a double tragedy. This is the second time to have to go through separation from your child. We are feeling a sense of helplessness.
“Liz and Jonathan have a very heavy cross, but despite that Jonathan said to me ‘Have you spoken to the driver?’ And Liz has phoned the driver at least three times. That is Christianity in action.”
Kelvin was laid to rest next to his brother Daniel at St Catherine’s Cemetery in Kilcully, Cork. He is survived by his parents, sisters Leanne, Sophie and Missy, and brothers Shane and Jamie.