The father of a four-year-old boy who was fatally injured in an incident in London before Christmas has spoken at the boy's funeral in Co Waterford about how "blessed" he was to have him in his life for four years and three months.
Ben Dooly from Tramore was speaking at the funeral of his son, Kobi Macharia Dooly, which took place today, almost a month after Kobi died.
Mr Dooly, who has lived in England for many years but is from a well-known business family in the Tramore area, said he had always told Kobi he would bring him home to Tramore.
A large crowd gathered at the Church of the Holy Cross in Tramore for today's funeral mass, with mourners led by Ben Dooly as well as Kobi's grandparents Wilf and Anne, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many family friends and relations.
Kobi died in hospital early on 21 December last, hours after being found by police with serious injuries at his home in Hackney, London.
His mother, 41-year-old Keziah Macharia, was charged before Christmas with Kobi's murder and has appeared twice in court. She is due in court again on 21 March, with a trial provisionally scheduled for 4 November.
The white coffin bearing Kobi's remains were brought into the church today amid silence, with the letters of his name spelled out in flowers. A floral display featuring his favourite Spiderman character was placed at the top of the church.
At the outset of the funeral, Ben Dooly thanked everyone present for being there and for supporting the family in recent weeks.
"I always told Kobi that I'd bring him to Tramore, and Tramore is a beautiful place," he said.
"The people of Tramore have absolutely wrapped a blanket of love around my little boy, and I really appreciate that."
He added: "My little boy is beautiful, I'm actually blessed, I'm really blessed to have Kobi in my life for four years and three months. I'll always cherish that. I'm one of the luckiest people alive and the proudest.
"Kobi is the strongest little boy that I know and we are all going to be strong with this. He's looking down on us right now.
"In times like this people will think that they'll actually question faith and what not, in fact for me it's made it stronger. It's obviously the hardest day but it's made it stronger for me and I know my little boy is looking down on me, he's giving me signs all over the place, and I want to thank Kobi for that."
Mr Dooly said the two of them had a beautiful relationship, "I adore him and he adored me".
He described Kobi as "so beautiful, perfect, so strong and sweet and kind and clever".
Mr Dooly said: "We'll pull through today, we'll pull through the rest," before being given loud applause by the congregation.
Parish priest of Tramore, Fr Richard O'Halloran, said it is one of the most difficult days that the parish has ever had to face, "gathering as we do to celebrate the short but beautiful life" of Kobi.
Homecoming
It was Kobi's first visit to his paternal home of Tramore, Fr O'Halloran said.
"It is not the homecoming wanted or expected, but a homecoming nonetheless. We treasure and honour his presence among us."
Fr O'Halloran said Kobi was "a beautiful, smiling, dancing ray of light in your lives" and will be missed beyond words.
"Will support the family best by never forgetting the name Kobi and remembering the handsome, smiling face behind the name. But by also being kind to each other, as Kobi always was. Love and kindness will be his legacy."
He spoke of how Kobi connected with people of all ages wherever he went, liked basketball and soccer, and how his favourite superhero was Spiderman.
"I know you are thankful for the years that you had," he said to the family.
"He graced and changed your lives."
