Moving tribute to murdered school friend, Roman

HUNDREDS of teenagers yesterday paid a final poignant tribute to a school friend and teammate murdered near his home in Limerick last Saturday night.

Mourners heard Ukraine born, Roman Vysochan, 16, loved his new Limerick home, his new school friends and his new soccer team, Corbally United.

He died last Saturday night when he tried to help a friend who was set upon after ending a teenage romance.

His parents, Vitally and Tetyana, and brother, Oleg, led the mourners at the funeral mass at St Nicholas’ Church, Westbury, Corbally.

The congregation included several hundred students from St Munchin’s College, where Roman was a fifth year student, students from St Nessan’s College, Ard Scoil Mhuire, Corbally, and members of the Corbally United soccer club. Members of the under-16 side on which Roman starred formed a guard of honour.

Parish priest at St Nicholas’ Fr John Daly said they were gathered to try and come to terms with a tragedy that had gripped the lives of so many people — the tragedy that a life had been taken too quickly.

He said: “Roman was a son, brother and very talented footballer. He had so many good qualities and it was a pleasure to work with him. He had a positive attitude to life and made a great impact on his team mates on the soccer team. We come here in great sadness and helplessness. We come with broken hearts. The Lord is close to the broken hearted. We can see that in the stillness, the silence and support for Roman’s family today.”

There were, said Fr Daly, so many happy memories of Roman. “On the sports field he would gee up the team and say ‘come on lads’.”

Fr Daly said such memories would help his broken hearted family and friends.