Light-blue clothing filled a Clare church today as mourners paid their respects to the “most perfect little boy” who was tragically killed in a road traffic incident last Wednesday.
Hunter James Molloy died at just 18 months old in an incident involving a car at the Ballaghboy Halting Site on the Quin Road in Ennis. He was transferred to University Hospital Limerick, where he sadly passed away from his injuries.
At his funeral mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis, his family wore blue t-shirts with the baby boy's face on them, as mourners heard how his short life brought so much joy to all those around him.
READ MORE: Tributes flow for tragic 18-month-old Hunter Molloy as social media flooded with blue hearts in his honour
Parish priest Fr Tom Ryan said: “The hearts of Alisha, Peter and their family are broken, broken with the pain of loss. The quality of life that Hunter lived was a quality of love.
“Hunter both gave and received love, His presence in your lives brought great joy and his death has caused great pain because someone we love has died. Hunter received nothing but love and care from you, Alisha and Peter, his mam and dad, he will always be in your family and that flow of love will continue in his home in heaven.”
Fr Ryan added that Hunter’s tragic death shows how life can change “in an instant” and the answer to why he was taken so young will never be known. He said: “Last Wednesday in an instant second life stopped and changed, and life now will never be the same again.
“We don't know why acts like this happen, but they do, and we are called upon to support each other at such times. Hunter's life was lived fully, he never committed a sin in his life, he just radiated love, and his life has been lived fully surrounded by love.”
The young boy was born in October 2022, and in his short 18 months, Fr Ryan said he was “no different from any other boy or girl his age”. He added: “He cried, he laughed, he smiled, he grew hair, he grew teeth, he had an appetite, he crawled, he walked, he smiled, he ate and he slept. He did all the normal things that young babies do.
“Hunter, today we are sad and you indeed are a great loss to us, but we are also glad that you have been a great blessing to all of us. Today with heavy hearts we give thanks to God for your life, short as it was, for your inspiration, your legacy, and your life.”
At the end of the mass, The World’s Greatest by R Kelly played through the speakers as his tiny blue coffin was carried out by family. Since the toddler's death on Wednesday, tributes have flooded in on social media, with Hunter’s heartbroken mother Alisha saying he was the “most perfect little boy”.
Sharing several photos of her young son on Facebook, she wrote: “My last ever photos of my precious most perfect little boy in this whole world. He completed me in every way possible, that child was my golden boy and he knew it.
“He could get away with anything with me, he was so clever, he would sing, dance, scream, cry, lie on the floor and stamp his legs if he didn’t get his way, which was very rare trust me because see you my Hunter James you were special to your mommy and daddy.
“Nobody in the whole world will ever understand how much you meant you were like a really expensive rare diamond, you were so special our blondie boy, our Hunty Wunty.”
She added: “If I had known it would’ve happened I’d say God take me instead, I love you my golden precious beautiful boy I’m going to do everything for you just like I did when you were here my son.”
Condolences from friends and family filled the comments of the post, with one person writing: “He loved you so much Alisha his mam, his mammy his everything”.
And another person commented: “A cruel world we live rest in peace beautiful baby boy so sorry for yer loss”.
The deceased infant's father, Peter Molloy, has been released from prison on compassionate grounds following the tragic death.
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