AS THE man arrested last Sunday in connection with the murder of eleven-year-old Brooklyn Colbert remained in Garda custody, the boy’s school confirmed they have offered counselling support to his heartbroken classmates.
The sports-mad schoolboy was found dead in a house in Shanabooley Road, Ballynanty around 7pm last Sunday.
A male relative was arrested shortly afterwards when he presented himself at Henry Street Garda station.
Gardaí said they were not releasing details of the cause of Brooklyn’s death for operational reasons.
Theresa O’Sullivan, Principal, John F Kennedy Memorial School, where Brooklyn had been due to return last Monday after the Halloween break, confirmed they were providing supports to help pupils deal with their grief.
“We will remember that playful glint in his eye, which never failed to soften the hearts of his teachers. Brooklyn was a very loveable and kind boy, who was popular with both his peers and teachers. He had an easy going personality and a good sense of humour.
“Brooklyn was as loyal to his friends as he was to Liverpool FC. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by us all,” she added.
Brooklyn had recently joined Ballynanty Rovers FC, following in the footsteps of his father Wayne, a well-known soccer player with Pike Rovers, who also played League of Ireland football with Limerick FC, Shamrock Rovers and Athlone Town.
A tribute posted online by Ballynanty Rovers read: “It is with profound sadness that Ballynanty Rovers has learned of the tragic death of one of our schoolboy players.”
“Brooklyn Colbert played with our U11s team this year and everyone at the club wish to offer our deepest condolences to Brooklyn’s parents and family at this very sad time,” the club added.
Making a fresh appeal for witnesses, a Garda spokesman said that the man in his 20s arrested in connection with a murder enquiry in Limerick remains in Garda Custody under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act.
The Garda Technical Bureau remained at the house on Shanabooley Road on Monday and Tuesday carrying out forensic examinations while local Gardaí continued their house-to-house enquiries in the area.
They are also looking for information from anyone who was in the vicinity of Shanabooley Road or in the Moyross area between 4pm and 7pm on Sunday night.
They are asked to contact the incident room at Mayorstone Park Garda Station on 061-456989, the Garda Confidential Line 1800- 666 -111 or any Garda Station.
Brooklyn Colbert will be laid to rest on this Friday in Mount St Oliver cemetery, following Requiem Mass at 11am in St Saviour’s Church, Glentworth Street.
His obituary notice added that he is “sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Wayne and Sonia, brothers Thomas and Carter, ever loving grandmother Terry Colbert, the Aylmer grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and his fellow class mates at JFK School”.
Brooklyn’s family requested “family flowers only” with “donations, if desired, to the Family Project, Bedford Row, Limerick”.
