Tributes paid to Fermanagh schoolboy dead after playground altercation

Tributes have been paid to a teenage boy from County Fermanagh who died after an altercation in the school playground.

13-year-old Oisin McGrath was badly injured while playing in Enniskillen on Monday.

He died last night with the North's First Minister Peter Robinson describing the news as "heartbreaking".

Robinson tweeted: “Young Oisin McGrath’s death is heartbreaking.

“I’ll be praying for his family and all those devastated by this sad news tonight.”

Police questioned a 17 year-old, who has since been released on bail.

Fr Seamus Quinn had been at the victim’s bedside. He said: “People were shocked when they heard that there were no signs of life and the support would be gradually removed.”

Fr Quinn said Oisin was a very well-grounded and well-rounded young teenager.

“He was happy and helpful, genuinely helpful, intelligent young fella.

“They are a well-loved and well-respected family, they are solid, salt of the earth people, faith-based people, Christian people.”

He said the community in Belcoo had been united in prayer for Oisin, with 500 people attending Catholic Mass on Wednesday night at St Patrick’s Church in Holywell – a small village outside Belcoo.

“There is a silence in the village, there was a silence after Mass last night, naturally people were just dumbfounded and in shock.

“For anybody who has children it is their worst nightmare.”

Members of the Belcoo GAA club - of which Oisin's mother is secretary - posted a message on their site, reading: "It is with regret and deep sadness that the congregation at mass this evening was informed that young Oisin McGrath is no longer with us."

The club said it was a sad time, and that it was arranging a guard of honour from the U14s for the funeral service.