'Matthew loved life, like he knew his time was short' – Heartbroken dad of boy, 6, killed by mum pays emotional tribute | KO47C80 | 2024-05-12 00:08:01
A HEARTBROKEN dad whose son died after he was found unresponsive in a car has paid tribute to his "great little ladeen" who made the most of his short life.
Matthew Healy, just 6, was discovered in a car in Dunmore East, Co Waterford on February 9th and despite the best efforts of paramedics he died soon after.
His Dad James from Watergrasshill, Co Cork now wants to make the dreams of sick children come true following the death of his son who would have turned seven in a few days.
He said: "May 17 is going to be a hard day. He was always asking 'dad when will I be seven?' He was mad for driving on. He was like a fella who knew his time would be short. He loved life."
Matthew loved car and bike shows so on May 19 James has organised a motorcycle and vintage car gathering and run for Make A Wish Foundation, that he knows his little boy would have loved.
He said: "Matthew was a big tall lad. I had to get him a new bike and he was still on the stabilisers.
"I said 'you know now that is the last size bike you can have stabilisers on. We will have to put a bit of work into getting off the stabilisers.'
"He was half reluctant. But I bought the new size bike up as well which was a really good looking one. And I said 'we will be working our way to getting on to that.' He had the stabilisers gone in two weeks.
"A couple of weeks after that he goes 'Dad can I have a go off the bike with the gears?' Now it was a way bigger bike.
"And I said 'lad I don't know if you are ready for that at all. He said 'Ah, go on give me one go.'"
"He hopped up on it and that was the end of it. Everyone we were cycling past would know what gear he was in because he would be shouting it all over the place. He was always trying to get on to the next level in life.
"He was far beyond his years in many respects. Even as a small ladeen sarcasm wasn't lost on him at all. He was very bright that way and mad for a bit of devilment."
Matthew loved cycling around the countryside on his bike.
He said "I started cycling with him when he was about two. We started putting in the miles then. He used to love it.
"There was fierce old devilment when you would be cycling along and he would be shouting stuff at me and I would be shouting stuff back at him. It was the best craic ever. He got stuck into everything.
"There was happy memories and fun times and they are all the more precious now. We packed a lot in. Thank god. He had a great time in fairness and loved life."
James added: "Matthew was mad for car and bike shows. James laughingly remembers telling him about a Honda 50 bike he had when was growing up in Millstreet, Co Cork.
He said "When I was a small lad myself at home in the farm I restored a Honda 50 if you remember those little yokes – The 'chicken chasers.' I was telling Matthew about it one day and I was showing him pictures.
"He said 'Dad I want to restore one of them.' And I said 'grand job we will do it.' I said 'We will get two of them and we will do them together.'
"That was the plan and I knew they would take a while to locate. The plan was maybe when he was eight we would start restoring them.
The deep love James had for Matthew comes through in every word he speaks about him.
'SUFFERED A HUGE LOSS'
He said "He was a great divil. For every happy moment for the rest of our lives it will be followed by a sad moment and the happier the moment the sadder the moment also.
"I have suffered a huge loss but it is nothing compared to the loss he has suffered."
James said his hope is that his son will be remembered for his positive attitude to life.
Matthew was a senior infants pupil in Faithlegg National School in Waterford.
At his funeral symbols of his life included Lego cars, jellies, arts and crafts and his cycling helmet.
His mother Ruth Purcell Healy has been charged with his murder.
Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, from Waterford, has been charged with killing Matthew Healy in the village of Rathmoylan on 8 or 9 February.
Donations can be made to the Matthew Healy Make a Wish Foundation appeal.
More >> https://ift.tt/uUEDxhr Source: MAG NEWS