By Dionne Meehan
BABY Danny McLaughlin was remembered as “an angel sent from Heaven” at his requiem Mass on Tuesday.
Danny, of Tirargus, Trentagh, Churchill, was just months away from his second birthday when he passed away on Sunday.
Born with an inoperable brain tumour, he received constant care from both his family and a team of nurses throughout his short life.
Last week, Danny was officially welcomed as the latest recruit of the Little Blue Heroes at a memorable graduation day which was celebrated alongside members of the fire service, coast guard service and ambulance personnel, as well as his family and friends.
Following his sad passing, local gardaí paid tribute to their little colleague.
“We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Honorary Garda Danny Mc Laughlin from Trentagh,” a garda spokesperson said.
“Danny recently graduated as one of our Little Blue Heroes.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents, Michael and Annie, his twin brother Charlie and with his extended family and friends.
“Our little colleague, our little friend and one of our biggest heroes forever.”
On Tuesday, a Mass of the Angels took place in St Colmcille’s Church in Glendowan where crowds gathered to pay their respects and say their final goodbyes to little Danny.
Addressing the congregation at the Mass, Fr Martin Chambers said nothing stopped Danny’s family from giving him the best life.
“There were no barriers in giving him the best and nothing stopped you from achieving this,” he said.
“It was done with care, with love and with great courage as you, his family, wanted the best for your wee man.
“His care was exceptional and whoever came in contact with him fell in love with him right away.”
Danny’s aunt Orla McLaughlin also addressed the congregation at Tuesday’s Mass.
She recalled her nephew’s perfect brown eyes, his dark hair with his little curl, his perfectly imperfect toes as well as his look of innocence and purity.
“You have blessed us with the most cherished memories Danny, a smile that we will never ever forget and the feeling of a cuddle that we will always hold on to,” she said.
“From day one you proved everyone wrong, following shadows with your eyes, impeccable hearing, strength in all your little movements and all things that you were told you would never achieve.
“But damn Danny, did you prove them wrong.
“Our wee fighter for sure.”
Orla described her nephew as an “angel sent from Heaven”.
“We don’t know why, and we will never understand how you could be taken from us, but we all know for sure that you were given to us for a reason Danny, an angel sent from Heaven,” she said.
“No matter who held or touched you felt it in their hearts the importance you carried on to this earth.
“Danny, thank you.
“Thank you so much for everything, for being the most strongest little man there is about and giving us time to get to know you.
“We are so grateful we had the time to get to know you and your little personality, and to have so much time we were never supposed to get.
“But, it will never be enough time with you.
“Danny, I believe you were brought on to this earth to show love and that’s what you have done.
“The love you have given us and shown us is something else.
“You have touched all of our hearts and showed us the important things in life.”
After Mass, burial took place in Gartan cemetery.
Danny is missed and loved so much by his heartbroken parents Michael, Annie and twin brother Charlie, deeply regretted by grandparents, Marcus and Teresa and Sabrina and Livinius and fondly remembered by his uncle Marcus, aunts Orla and Megan, extended family members, neighbours and friends.
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