Limerick toddler's funeral: ‘Little Robert changed lives in two brief years’

The great changes a young child brought during his brief life of just two years and two months were saluted by a priest yesterday at the toddler’s funeral.

Fr Pat Hogan, parish priest of Southill parish in Limerick, was speaking at the Mass of the Angels for little Robert Kelly who died from a viral infection last Saturday. His family made a public plea to be allowed grieve in peace after sinister messages were posted on social medial following the child’s death.

Fr Hogan addressed several hundred mourners and said: “Children change everything. They change people’s hearts — people’s lives. Having a child takes you on a journey of love, care, anxiety that you never thought possible. We know that young Robert changed the lives of people around him by just being there. He caused great change especially in his parents, Robert and Lisa. So children teach us that being present with us is most important. Robert was in our hearts by being there. He caused great change. Children are fully confident that they are going to be loved, cared for, more secure. They don’t ask us to be perfect, just that they would know love and security. Robert’s goodness and love continues to grow in his parents and family.”