'He had so much life in him': Funeral of teenager killed in Waterford crash told

Gilbert Collins: his brother Marvellous Okin said he would always remember his 'constant smile and laughter.'

“I can't see Gilbert without picturing him smiling or laughing about something. Even now I know he's looking down and he's probably asking me 'Why am I crying?'"

Those were the words of Marvellous Okin, at the service for his younger brother Gilbert Collins, who was one of two teenagers who died when their e-scooter collided with a bus last week.

Marvellous broke down in tears as he paid tribute to his brother Gilbert, whose “constant smile and laughter” he would always remember.

Speaking briefly before the 15-year-old’s remains were taken from Tom Hennessy's Funeral Home to Kilbarry Cemetery nearby in Waterford City, he said: “Kids and teenagers need to be more attentive to what their parents advise them.

We all also need to appreciate our loved ones more because in this life, we never know what can happen. 

In a faltering voice, he added: “Thank you Gilbert for the memories, the lessons and the good times.” 

Earlier, a group of friends and relatives gathered for prayers at the funeral home before Gilbert's coffin was placed carefully into the back of his hearse.

Earlier, his brother also reminded mourners about the way his younger brother “used to smile and laugh”.

The funeral cortege of Gilbert Collins on its way to Kilbarry Cemetery, Link Road, Ballybeg, Waterford. Picture: Dan Linehan

He said although he “had bad days”, Gilbert “never let the bad days take away the smile he had on his face”.

Marvellous said: “As a big brother, I never thought he would be the one giving me a lesson on life even as he's leaving us, but it is something I will take from this incident.

“To say he was a character was an understatement because he was so much more.

“He had so much life in him, I’ve never seen anything at all like him.

I could be giving out to him, and he’d still find a way to make me smile and laugh, even though I’d be mad at him.

Gilbert had recently finished his Junior Cert.

He and his friend Avuzwa Idris, 17, are understood to have been returning from an all-night gym when the e-scooter they were on collided with a coach at about 2am.

They were on their way back from Snap Fitness, in the Waterford Retail Park, at Butlerstown North, at the time.

Well-wishers and friends have left bouquets of flowers, candles, cards and a teddy bear by the roadside, near where the incident happened, while hundreds of tributes and messages of sympathy for Gilbert and his family were left on the RIP.ie website.

They included one from a teacher at the school he attended, St Paul’s Community College. Steven Wilmott wrote: “My deepest sympathy to Gilbert’s family and friends from the school and community. He was one of the students that made it such a vibrant place to be in and will be sorely missed by everyone.”

There will be a two-hour memorial service at Maranatha Christian Community Church in Waterford on Wednesday at 6.30pm for Avuzwa, followed by a funeral service the following day from 10am with removal at 12pm to Kilbarry Cemetery for burial on arrival.