Thousands mourn murdered schoolboy

Thousands of people turned out today in Midleton for the funeral of murdered schoolboy Robert Holohan.

The Holy Rosary Church in Midleton, Co Cork, was filled to capacity with mourners while thousands more gathered outside.

The celebrant, Fr Billy O’Donovan, said January 4, 2005, the day Robert disappeared, would live long in the nation’s memory. He told the congregation that the schoolboy’s parents Mark and Majella had the support of the whole country.

“They know themselves they must start the long journey of looking to the future, coping with their grief and in time putting their lives back together again,” he said.

Robert’s body was brought from the family home along the main street of Midleton as hundreds of people lined the street.

Mark and Majella Holohan walked into the church arm-in-arm, accompanied by two Garda detectives and the family liaison officer.

The family was attended by representatives of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and President Mary McAleese.

Employment Minister Micheal Martin, Minister for Children Brian Leihan, Minister of State Michael Ahern, the Mayor of Midleton Councillor Ted Murphy, the local Church of Ireland bishop Paul Colton and Bishop of Coyle John McGee were all present.

Thousands listened to the loudspeakers outside as Fr O’Donovan delivered his sermon. The emotion became too much for one child who went pale and had to be rushed out of the church and given a drink of water by his parents.

Many cried when he recalled his conversation with a Garda officer who had been guarding the scene where Robert’s body was found. The Garda told him that he wanted Robert’s parents to know that their young son was not alone that night.

“I just wished I had a blanket wrapped around him,” the Garda said.

Fr O’Donovan said all the people who had taken part in the searches for Robert were heroes.

“During the past 12 days we’ve witnessed and experienced something very special here and Midleton and the surrounding community.”

He paid tribute to the bravery, generosity and sheer goodness of the people who had taken part in the search.

Fr O’Donovan read a message from President McAleese, who said she wanted to convey her admiration for what the community has done to help the Holohan family.

“Midleton has responded with resilience, dignity and sheer goodness.”

She said the prayers of the entire nation were with the community. “No-one in Ireland has been untouched by this.”

The prayers of the faithful were said by Robert’s cousin Kelly and his hero, Cork hurler Sean Og O’Halpin. “Robert was an inspiration to all of us,” he said.

Fr O’Donovan said today could be a day of hope for Robert. He said people often had a tendency to dwell on lives which are cut short but they should instead remember they had the joy and exuberance Robert had shown in his short life.

Earlier, gardaí had put traffic diversions in place around the east Cork town, which has a population of around 7,000 people.

The gates of the Holy Rosary church were closed to vehicles, although they were temporarily opened to admit florists and members of the church choir.

Mourners signed books of condolences for the Holohan family which were placed inside the church doors. Pictures of a smiling Robert on a children’s slide were placed beside some of them.

Shops in the Midleton area shut at 1pm as a mark of respect. Most had taken down their ’missing’ posters of the young schoolboy which had been displayed throughout the town during the eight day search.

Some businesses, such as the local Imokily People newspaper, set up remembrance displays. Its front window contained a table with a large picture of the schoolboy, a statue of Jesus, a lighted candle and a sign which said “God rest you Robert”.

Other shops also displayed signs for the information and advice helpline set up by the Health Services Executive for local people affected by the murder.

Two sisters who attended the funeral, Marguerite and Rosemary Hurst, said the entire community was absolutely devastated. “It’s a wonderful community. Everyone had been out on the searches and sympathising with the family,” said Marguerite Hurst.

Rosemary added: “That is necessary. Everyone has to pull together.”

Marguerite Hurst said: “Robert’s family have been magnificent, in particular his mother Majella. The poor mother has been magnificent. Her heart must be in shreds.”

She said she had been saying her rosary for Robert’s safe return and couldn’t sleep at night.

Schools, businesses and voluntary organisations from across the country sent bouquets of flowers and wreaths. Midleton graveyard worker Gerry Lowry said he had been busy all morning carrying the tributes to the graveside. “This is the biggest funeral ever in Midleton,” he said.

The United Pony Club sent a flower display with a heart in the middle, surrounded by flowers spelling Robert’s name. There were bouquets from many Cork national schools as well as schools further afield such as St Patrick’s National School in Enfield, Co Meath, and the Clap Elementary School in Massachusetts, USA.

The enormous crowd at Robert’s funeral overshadowed the earlier service for a 52-year-old local man, who took his life by jumping off a bridge over the local river on the day Robert’s body was found. Gardaí ruled out any connection between his death and the murder of Robert, as the man had a history of depression.

The Garda hunt for Robert’s killer continued as the funeral ceremony took place. Although the 50 detectives working on the case have carried out inquiries as far afield as Britain and Belgium, the focus of the investigation is now believed to be on suspects in the local area.

Gardaí believe Robert may have been killed by someone who knew him and had a good knowledge of the secluded area where the schoolboy’s body was found, 10 miles from his home.

At a news conference in Midleton earlier in the week, Gardai assistant commissioner Tony Hickey appealed for the killer to come forward. He said that in his experience, many murderers regretted what they had done, wanted to get it off their chest and were glad when they were eventually caught.

Robert disappeared from his home in Ballyedmond, Midleton, after leaving on his BMX bike which had been given to him as a Christmas present. The bike was found abandoned later that afternoon half a mile from his home.

Thousands of volunteers searched fields, beaches and rivers.

His body was discovered on the eighth day by a team of gardaí, army personnel and volunteers. It was concealed in dense undergrowth, in a ravine just feet away from a road which leads to Inch Strand in Cork.

A post-mortem on the 11-year-old’s fully clothed body found he died of asphyxiation. There were no signs of any sexual assault. Gardai discovered his mobile phone alongside the body, which was covered by a black bin bag.

Officers had worked with the mobile phone company O2 to boost the signal from Robert’s Nokia mobile phone, which went dead shortly after he disappeared. This allowed them to narrow down the search to the area around Inch Strand. An enormous mobile phone mast overlooked the site where Robert’s body was eventually discovered.

The scene was combed for evidence by the Garda Technical Bureau and the Garda Sub-Aqua Unit. Gardaí and army personnel were still searching fields today within a three mile radius of Inch Strand for any traces left by the killer.

The schoolboy’s body was released to the family yesterday afternoon for a private prayer ceremony at their home. Robert’s parents,and his young brother and sister, were comforted by relatives and friends and by their local parish priest Billy O’Donovan.