A 13-year-old Co Cork boy who died after he was hit by a truck the day after his birthday was remembered at his requiem mass as being a kind and gentle person who made a major impact during his short life.
Mourners at the funeral mass of Jimmy Horgan at St Joseph's SMA Church in Blackrock in Cork city were told in the words of his favourite football club, Liverpool FC, that "You will never walk alone."
The popular first-year pupil at Presentation Brothers College in Cork died following an incident involving a lorry at Sheares Street in the city centre on Tuesday afternoon. He was transferred to the nearby Mercy University Hospital where he died a short time later. The driver of the truck was uninjured in the incident.
Jimmy is survived by his parents Ernest and Rachel and his siblings Rosie, Tilly, Lola and Rex. The Horgan family are well-known in the hospitality sector.
Parish priest Fr Alphonse Sekongo said Jimmy was a loving son, brother and friend to all.
"Jimmy was part and parcel of this parish life," he said. "Jimmy was part of our school choir when he was in Crab Lane [Ballintemple National School]. Jimmy's siblings were also part of our Sunday Masses here. It is a difficult time for all of you. He was a young boy, full of life - a gentle boy."
Students from Presentation Brothers College and Ballintemple National School stood outside the church in honour of their late friend and classmate.
Among the expressions of condolence to the family was a message of support from former PBC student and former Munster rugby player Simon Zebo. Another former PBC student, former Munster and Ireland player Ronan O'Gara, also tweeted that his "thoughts and prayers" were with the family as they laid their "beautiful" boy to rest.
In a statement earlier this week, PBC said that Jimmy "endeared himself to both classmates and staff alike".
