THE LIFE of Arklow shopkeeper John Deasy ended last week in tragic circumstances in which nobody deserves to die, his funeral Mass heard yesterday.
Chief celebrant Fr Jim Fegan told the congregation of hundreds, which packed the Church of St Mary and Peter in the centre of the town, that Mr Deasy (45) had been robbed of a life which was full of joy and promise.
The father of two was stabbed to death last Wednesday night when he confronted a man who entered his newsagent shop, Brauders, and demanded money from an assistant. Two men have since appeared in court charged with theft of €150 from the shop.
“We gather here this afternoon to do what seems impossible,” Fr Fegan said. “To try to make sense out of what is utterly senseless. To find comfort in the midst of intense anguish.
“On Wednesday evening last here in this community of Arklow John Deasys life was brutally ended in circumstances in which no one deserves to die,” he continued. “No one deserves to be robbed of their life. A life that was full of joy and full of promise.
“His ready smile and his pleasant expression were so much a part of his person, as if they had been branded into his flesh. John Deasy was a buoyant, happy and vibrant young man, a man of unusual charm.”
The chief mourners were his daughters Sarah-Kate (14) and Emma (12), their mother Briann, Mr Deasy’s brothers Declan and Ken, their mother Lily, and his sister-in-law Anne.
Fr Fegan described Mr Deasy’s death as “tragic and untimely” and a “shocking loss”, but said the “greatest injustice” of all was that his two daughters had been left without a father.
However, he said he was certain that Mr Deasy would want his daughters to know he loves them dearly and always will. “Be sure your Dad will be watching over you and loving you each day.”
A number of gifts were brought to the altar at the beginning of the Mass representing Mr Deasy’s many interests, which included sport, travel, his family and friends, and the local community.
Among them was a rugby shirt signed by the Irish team to mark his passion for the sport, some golf balls to symbolise his love for the game, a newspaper to represent his role in the community and a swimming hat and goggles to represent some the enjoyable times he had with his daughters.
Fr Fegan said a tragic and sudden death such as Mr Deasy’s was similar to a blackout – “one minute the sun is shining, the next minute it is dark”.
“Sometimes in our lives the electricity is suddenly and unexpectedly cut off. Everything stops, the TV goes blank, the radio goes silent and we are plunged into darkness. And for a while at least, we feel lost, we feel helpless . . . it causes a disruption to our world, to our plans,” he said.
“Without the slightest warning or the slightest chance to prepare ourselves we are plunged into an incredible darkness. In the space of a minute our whole world is turned upside down.”
Parish priest Fr Martin Cosgrove extended his sympathy to Mr Deasy’s family, friends and fellow traders and commended the large congregation which attended the funeral. “It is truly wonderful to see such a packed church on this very sad occasion.”
Among the congregation were former Irish rugby international Shane Byrne, local TDs Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche and Billy Timmins of Fine Gael.