A grief-stricken father has pleaded with teenagers to stop putting their lives on the line in cars after burying his 14-year-old son.
Lukas Joyce died in a crash in County Galway on Easter Monday and his heartbroken dad Joe urged youngsters to “think of their parents” as he gave an emotional speech at his funeral in St Brendan’s Church, Annaghdown, reports the Irish Mirror.
Presentation College pupil Lukas, along with classmate Kirsty Bohan, also 14, was killed in an early morning road crash outside the small town of Headford, while two other students of the school, a 13-year-old boy and 14-year old girl, are being treated for multiple injuries at hospital.
In a discourse to a packed congregation that lasted over half an hour, Mr Joyce who is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his and wife Neringa’s only child, said: “He was like a little brother to me.
“He was with me on the farm or in the workshop or beside me in the van ever since he was three or four.
“What has happened is unreal. What’s going on I don’t know, but I have heard a lot this week, but if I’d known earlier I would have put a stop to it.
“I saw parents and they walked around Lukas’ coffin and looked in at him and they were probably saying that could be my son.
“All I’m asking you, young people, it is not a joke, it is really serious. You might think it is good for Snapchat or whatever you are doing it for.
“You are not able to drive a car, don’t think you are. Think of your parents. Parents work all week to provide for ye.
“They go to bed at night, do you want them to wake up to see if the car is outside the backdoor? Or see ye gone with it?
“I’ve heard the stories this week. It’s not fair on your parents. I’m not a parent any more, Neringa is not a parent any more. That’s all I have to say … stop it.”
Mr Joyce was given a standing ovation by the congregation and Father Sean Cunningham also appealed to teenagers to listen to the words of the despondent father
Mr Joyce recounted in detail all that had happened since his world changed forever shortly before 11am on Monday when he received a call from An Garda Siochána asking him if he was the father of Lukas Joyce and that they wished to meet him.
He insisted on being told the news over the phone and said he couldn’t believe it. He then had to ring Neringa.
“The hardest phone call I ever had to make,” he said.
Mourners were told how he went on Thursday (April 13) to meet Kirsty’s parents, Christy and Theresa, and how they hugged each other for ages, united by their joint grief.
The hundreds of people inside and outside St Brendan’s Church heard how Lukas loved playing darts, rugby, soccer and GAA. He enjoyed working with his father on the farm or in the carpentry workshop.
Symbols brought to the altar included a rugby ball, darts, a basketball which is the national sport of Lithuania where his mum is from, while his school uniform and his work clothes were also presented.
Pupils from Presentation College Headford, players and coaches from Corrib RFC, Annaghdown GAA and other sports clubs and organisations formed a guard of honour, while neighbours and friends lined the road as his coffin was taken down the narrow road to Annaghdown cemetery on the banks of Lough Corrib.
