‘It’s very difficult for any parent to bury a child’

“MY SON”, spelt out in blue and white flowers beside the coffin of 23-year-old John Grey, was the last message from his heartbroken parents before he was laid to rest yesterday in Waterford.

John was buried at Ballinaneashagh cemetery on the outskirts of the city, while his mother Betty and father Martin said their goodbyes 16 days after he fell into a coma at a party held to celebrate the 21st birthday of his brother Mark.

His girlfriend Fiona, sister Michelle and other brother Michael also choked with emotion as John made his last journey to the grave, remembered as a “popular young man” with a big heart.