Tributes paid to murdered youth
BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Tributes paid to murdered youth
Thomas’ cortege passes flowers laid in his memory
The funeral has taken place of north Belfast murder victim Thomas Devlin.
The 15-year-old was stabbed five times in the back last week as he walked home after buying sweets from a garage.
Thomas’ schoolfriends followed the cortege from his home on the Somerton Road for Requiem Mass at the Church of the Resurrection on the Cavehill road.
The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Patrick Walsh, said thuggery and gangsterism “reign supreme on many of our streets”.
Mourners stopped at the murder scene on their way to the church.
In his homily, Father Sean Emerson spoke of Thomas’ love of music and his sense of fun.
He said the “brutality” of his death had made most people wonder what “was going on, what is wrong in society”.
“Those who murdered Thomas”, he said, “must have a very heavy conscience because they have committed a very evil act”.
‘Normal lad’
Thomas, a student at Belfast Royal Academy, was buried in Armoy, County Antrim.
Earlier, Father Emerson said he had visited the family in the days since the murder and had been remembering good times with Thomas.
“They were basically just talking about Thomas and his life and how they will miss him and they anticipate the grief ahead of them,” he said.
“And just how he was a normal lad and they keep recalling memories and things that they did together as a family.”
Thomas was a talented musician who played the horn at school.
Police investigating his murder made a fresh appeal for information at the weekend.
They said the investigation was ongoing and urged anyone who was in the area of the Fortwilliam service station or Somerton Park on the night of Wednesday 10 August and who has information to contact them.
Two men and a juvenile arrested over the murder have been released.
