A firebomb attack which claimed the life of a four-year-old child has been condemned as "evil" by a Limerick priest.
Speaking at the funeral Mass of Katelyn Ryan - who lost her battle for life in Crumlin Children's Hospital last week - Father Damien Ryan said yesterday:
"This deed was evil in its conception, evil in its implementation, and evil in its consequences. We only have to look here in the sanctuary, at Katelyn's little coffin to realise how evil it was.
"Violence is wrong. Violence, whatever its motivation is wrong. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and the whole world will end up blind and toothless. This deed was evil," he added.
Father Ryan paid tribute to the huge number of people who have offered support to the Ryan family since their home in Lenihan Avenue, Prospect, was petrol bombed just over a week ago.
"The truth is that there was a miracle of kindness and love in this community this week. This Christian community, those of other faiths, and no faith responded with bravery, kindness, generosity, love and grace to this terrible deed. Bravery in the face of the flames. Kindness and generosity in the face of need. Love and grace in the face of suffering and loss."
Hundreds of mourners wept as Father Ryan remembered the "little angel with the go-gos" who loved to dress up and was so full of life and of love.
"Katelyn was a wonderful 'little madam', so full of life and love. She enjoyed dressing up and would arrive up from her own home to her grandparents' home in all sorts of style, her Mam's shoes and of course go-goes.
"She was a wonderful little girl who was full of life and vitality. A blessing to all who knew her. The loss of one so dear diminishes the whole community."
Mourners were led by Katelyn's heartbroken mother, Jackie (32), who was also seriously injured in the blaze.
She broke a bone in her back when she jumped from a bedroom window clutching her baby daughter Leah.
One-year-old old Leah was in the intensive care unit of Limerick Regional Hospital for a week after the blaze but was also discharged from hospital on Friday.