Parents say driver not to blame for boy’s death

THE little boy who died after being crushed by a lorry, just days before he was due to start primary school, was buried in his new uniform yesterday.

The Scooby Doo bag which four-year-old Kelvin Purcell had ready was among several gifts carried to the altar during his funeral Mass.

Kelvin, from Ardcullen Estate in Knocknaheeny, on Cork’s northside, was crushed by a lorry delivering coal while he was lying on a skateboard near his home last Friday.

He lost his brave fight for life in hospital on Wednesday.

His heartbroken parents, Liz and Jonathan Purcell, who lost another son, Daniel, five, in a house fire in 2000, offered words of comfort to the distraught driver during the Mass.

They said they understand what happened to Kelvin was a tragic accident.

Hundreds of mourners led by the couple and their children Leanne, Sophie, Shane, Jamie and Missy, packed St Mary’s on the Hill Church in Knocknaheeny for the funeral.

Parish priest Fr Pat Fogarty said the family want the lorry driver to know it wasn’t his fault.

He said Liz and Jonathan spoke to the driver and his wife in recent days. And in what he described as a remarkable act of Christianity, the grieving parents invited them to sit with the remains of their son on Thursday.

“That’s heroic. That’s Christianity in action,” said Fr Fogarty.

People are struggling to make sense of the second tragedy to strike the family, he said.

“Where is God in all of this? Where is the sign of God’s presence?”

“For the last few days in the hospital I saw signs of God’s presence — the hospital staff trying to keep Kelvin alive, the love and support of the Purcell family, their neighbours and friends.

“But the greatest sign of God’s presence was when Liz and Jonathan asked me at least four times if I had spoken to the lorry driver.

“They have a heavy cross. Despite this cross, they have asked after the driver.”

In a moving statement from the altar, Kelvin’s aunt, Brenda, said what happened was a tragic accident.

“Liz and Jonathan and the family understand that. We know you [the driver] are hurting and are very sad about what happened to Kelvin,” she said.

“He was only four years old. He was a clever and fun-loving child. And anyone who knew Kelvin would know that.

“Kelvin tried his best to stay with us. He had been through a tough time for the last few days that he was in hospital.

“He put up a fight to stay with us but as he was only a small little boy and couldn’t stay any longer.

“Kelvin we are so proud of you and you are going to be missed so much by a lot of people.”

Dozens of Kelvin’s friends from the local Early Start pre-school programme sat in the church, oblivious to the tragedy and heartache.

A Bob the Builder figure, Kelvin’s favourite cartoon character, was on the altar near the small white coffin.

Two photographs of the youngster with the “happy disposition and impish grin” stood nearby.

Mourners were told that the little blond-haired boy who loved his dog Rex, had been really looking forward to starting primary school on Monday.

Mothers choked back tears when they heard he was to be buried in his school uniform.

A hurley and a ball were also brought to the altar by his brother Shane and cousin Conor to signify his great love of sport.

Kelvin’s remains were buried afterwards in St Catherine’s Cemetery, Kilcully.