Elliott English's funeral takes place in Waterford - Barry Whyte Reports

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman. On Newstalk, with Ciara.

Ciara Kelly (0:09)

Now, the funeral has taken place in Waterford this afternoon of six-year-old little Elliott English, who died from injuries sustained in the horrific arson attack on his family home last month. Around 400 mourners gathered in Waterford today to say their final goodbyes, and our chief reporter Barry Whyte was at the funeral.

Barry, it must have been another incredibly emotional day for the family, and indeed the wider community of Waterford.

Barry Whyte (0:34)

Hi Ciara, good evening. Yeah, it certainly was. I think it's difficult to put into words just how heartbreaking today's funeral was. I just say around 400 people gathered to say a final goodbye to six-year-old Elliott English, the fifth member of the same family to lose his life following that horrific fire last month. And one of the most heartbreaking images today was the sights of Elliott's little white coffin covered in stickers of Paw Patrol, one of his favourite cartoons. There was also a framed photograph of Elliott resting on top of the coffin. And inside the house, there was a floral arrangement in the colours of Liverpool Football Club.

Outside the church, teachers from Elliott School, Lord Caen formed a guard of honour as the community came together to say goodbye to a little boy who by all accounts was absolutely full of life. His older brother, John James, wore a white Paw Patrol t-shirt with Elliott's photograph and the words RIP Elliott printed on it. And other family members wore similar t-shirts while some wore white hoodies with Elliott's name on the back. And it was another reminder that behind all the headlines surrounding this horrific tragedy we're talking about a little boy who was just six years old. A little boy who we were told loved his cartoons, his toys, his family, his school and his school friends. Today was also the month's mine for Elliott's parents, Philip and Kim and his brothers, Callum and Jayden.

So this was a community morning, five members of the same family, just one month after their lives were so cruelly taken.

Ciara Kelly (2:12)

Dreadful stuff.

Barry, Elliott's aunt Jackie spoke on behalf of the family during the funeral mass. What did she say?

Barry Whyte (2:19)

Yeah, Ciara, I think her words really brought home the kind of little boy Elliott was. She described him as someone who left his mark on everyone who knew him. She spoke about his infectious laugh, how he loved playing burping games, and how the family would always remember him as their little Ellie belly.

But perhaps the most emotional part of her tribute was when she spoke about the extraordinary bond Elliott shared with his 14 year old sister Nadia. Nadia remains in Cromdon Children's Hospital in a serious but stable condition. And at today's funeral, it was revealed that in his final moments in hospital, little Elliott was held in his sister's arms. And I think that's an image that almost is impossible to comprehend, given everything that young girl has already been through. So yeah, I think people there today, and anybody who watched this funeral online, or just for me, myself, the image you're left with is this young boy dying in his sister's arms, which is just heartbreaking.

Ciara Kelly (3:23)

It is. It's dreadful and it is heartbreaking and difficult to imagine what Elliott's sister, who is only 14 years of age, Nadia, and the surviving members of this family are going through. Of course, Barry, this goes back to that terrible tragedy that arson attacked last month.

Barry Whyte (3:40)

Yeah, Kerry, and I think that's what makes today just so devastating. On October 13th, a fire was deliberately started at the English family home in Waterford, and what Garda are investigating as a multiple murder. Philip and Kim English and their two sons, Calum and Jaden, lost their lives. Elliott and his older sister, Nadia, were taken to hospital with critical injuries. For weeks, Elliott fought for his little life, but sadly he subsequently died, and Nadia, who is just 14, like you say, remains in hospital in a serious condition. And you know, one of the things that really struck me during today's train roll was when Elliott's aunt spoke about that incredibly close bond that I just mentioned between Elliott and his sister, and the fact that Nadia was holding her little brother in her arms before she passed away.

As I said, just think about that. A 14 year old girl who already lost her mother, her father and two brothers holding her six year old brother as he slips away. It is totally heartbreaking, like I say. And while much of the focus today was understandably on Elliott, there was also an enormous amount of love and concern and prayer expressed for Nadia. Father Jerry Chestnut spoke about how the thoughts and prayers of the entire community remain very much with her.