Two stories were told at the funeral of Thomas Devlin (15), stabbed to death while out buying sweets in north Belfast last week. One of a typical teenager who was "neither saint nor sinner"; the other of an "unspeakable" act of brutality.
Parents Jim Devlin and Penny Holloway and twin children James and Megan led mourners at the funeral yesterday of their beloved son and brother.
Two notes on floral tributes reflected the depth of the family's grief. Ms Holloway wrote about her "precious child", her "beautiful, kind-hearted, funny clever young son" who forever would be in her thoughts. "I love you so much it hurts," she wrote.
His father Jim wrote: "You were the laugh of my life."
Rev Seán Emerson in the Church of the Resurrection on the Cavehill Road in north Belfast told stories of Thomas, gleaned from his family. He told how he was a bit of a handful for his parents but how his sharp humour and the laughter he generated more than counter-balanced any adolescent trials he put them through.
He told of a school report where his form teacher noted he had been late for school 75 times. His mother was waking him too early, was Thomas's excuse to the teacher. Ah yes, it's all your mother's fault, the teacher agreed. See, it's all your fault, Thomas put it back to Penny triumphantly.
The congregation yesterday heard how Thomas loved heavy metal music, computers, the Goth scene and how despite his father's best efforts while on holidays in the US last summer he continued to wear regulation black, even in sweltering heat.
Thomas was "neither saint nor sinner", said Fr Emerson. "You could imagine his style, his coolness and just the fact that he was an everyday young fellow."
Then the priest turned to the horror of how two fairly young men out walking a dog could stab Thomas so callously along Somerton Road last Wednesday night week.
"How crazy, wrong and evil that such a young life has ended. The brutality of his death has made most people wonder what is going on, what is wrong in society," he said.
"Those who murdered Thomas must have a very heavy conscience because they have committed a very evil act and that will weigh upon them for the rest of their lives," added Fr Emerson. "The worst possible thing that could happen is for those who believe in evil and violence to be allowed to terrorise the rest of us to become like them."
Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Patrick Walsh told the mourners that summer days in Belfast and other parts of the North were turning into "days of darkness and shadow as we live through an ever-rapid downward spiral of aggressive behaviour, of wanton vandalism, of attacks on vulnerable people, of attacks on homes and on churches and, inevitably, of the ultimate depravity - murder.
"Those elements in society who exploit the fragility of impressionable young people, who turn the hearts of young people made for love into hearts of hatred, have much to answer for," he said.
