"Fly with the angels" - Funeral for six-year-old found dead in Waterford to be held tomorrow

The funeral for Matthew Healy, the six-year-old boy who was found dead in a car in near Dunmore East, Co Waterford on February 9, will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, February 14 in Co Cork.

“Matthew James Healy of Watergrasshill, Cork and Ballygunner, Waterford died on the 9th of February 2024 unexpectedly, aged 6 years,” a notice on RIP.ie says.

“Sadly missed by his heartbroken Dad James, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family, neighbours and friends.

“Fly with the angels”

The notice said a requiem Mass will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Watergrasshill on Wednesday at noon, followed by a private service in The Island Crematorium Ringaskiddy.

The notice added that donations, if desired, can be made to the Make a Wish Foundation.

On Tuesday, An Garda Síochána were forced to issue a warning about posts circulating on social media "which advertise the live streaming of the funeral mass of a recently deceased boy due to take place in the parish of Watergrasshill and Glenville Co. Cork."

The posts, An Garda Síochána said, "include a link which users are prompted to click on in order to watch the mass, and are then redirected to a webpage that captures their personal information.

"Please do not to engage with these posts.

"Anyone who wishes to watch a funeral mass via live stream are asked to please revert to the Parish or Diocese directly."

Gardaí in Waterford said on Friday that they were investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of the six-year-old boy whose body was found in a car at Dunmore East, Co Waterford shortly after midnight on Friday.

A woman in her late 30s was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Co Waterford.

The body of the deceased was removed to Waterford University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Two vigils have been held for Healy - one on Saturday at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford City and another last night at the Church of St Nicholas in Faithlegg, Co Waterford, close to Faithlegg National School where the child was a pupil.

Fr PJ Breen told Monday's gathering: "An innocent life has ended, all too soon. The lives of Matthew's parents and grandparents have been shattered, and scarred in a way we can't comprehend and hope will never visit our own lives.

"Many other lives have been deeply affected by this unspeakable tragedy.

"At this time the best we can do for his family, his friends and indeed for ourselves is to place our trust in God, have a child-like trust in him, in opening ourselves to his love for us we find comfort and consolation as we pray to God."

On Tuesday, RTÉ News reported that the woman who was arrested at the scene had been placed under medical supervision, but has since been declared medically fit to be interviewed and was being questioned by detectives at a garda station in Waterford. She can be held for up to 24 hours.