Odhrán Kelly Lurgan funeral: Forever would not have been too long to spend with caring young man due to start new job as healthcare assistant tomorrow

Two men and two women have been charged in connection with his murder.

Mr Kelly was the son of Jacqueline and the late Paul and brother of Paul and the late Sinead. His funeral took place at St. Peter’s Church, Lurgan today at 1.30pm.

Fr Colm Wright noted that it was the third violent death of a young person in Lurgan in 12 months.

"Odhran should be alive and should be planning for Christmas," he told mourners.

"Too many young people are in early graves robbed of their lives through violence, unnecessary violence that brings not just the end of lives, but the beginning of endless loss and misery, endless loss and misery for families, for friends and for communities.”

He added: "Odhrán was a young man, whose adulthood had really just begun. He had lost his daddy at a young age, and he was the light and he was the love of his family.

"And just the other night in his beautiful wee home, his mummy, his brother and his two uncles shared many lovely stories about them as a family."

They told his life story from him going to school in Tannaghmore right up to him taking up his new role as a healthcare assistant, which he was supposed to start tomorrow.

" A whole new chapter in his life - robbed."

He added: "Odhrán was what we call the child of the house. He had his own peculiar ways with his family, many of them very funny."

His brother Paul described him as "charismatic".

While visiting the family at the wake, his mother Jackie stopped and paused, he said.

"There was silence and she said, 'My son's body is laying there in that coffin. My son, who I carried and nurtured in my womb for nine months, is now lying in that coffin'."

Then on behalf of the community, the cleric told Odhrán’s family and friends “how very sorry we all are for your unbelievable loss”.

He added: “All of us know that your hearts are broken. All of us know it and our love, our many prayers and our support, please know, will be with all of you forever."

Odhrán's friend Jessica paid tribute to him at the end of Mass. She said: “Our beautiful Odhrán. It’s so hard to summarise someone as wonderful as Odhrán because there are simply not enough words to describe what an amazing person he was. The presence of people here today show the impact that Odhrán had on other people’s lives. He was loved immensely by his family and friends and we will forever keep on loving him.

"Odhrán was the most special kind of friend that you could have, kind, caring and always checking up on you – the kind of friend that made you laugh until your ribs were sore. Odhrán had the most brilliant laugh and everyone here will know just the laugh I am talking about. You always knew when he was close by because you would hear that laugh before you could see Odhrán. I know he is up there laughing at us all now saying ‘Oh I’m scundered’.

"When you were with Odhrán there was never a dull moment or a moment of silence. As we all know Odhrán could have talked the legs off a table. Odhrán brought nothing but joy to everyone around him. He had the most amazing presence, a presence that would light up any room he walked into. Odhrán’s best trait was his ability to put a smile on anyone’s face and it is these things for which he will be remembered.

"Odhrán, if you are listening, we want you to know that we love you more than you will ever know. We want you to know that Milo is safe and is enjoying his new life with a new brother and sister. Know that we are taking care of your beautiful mum Jacqui and brother Paul. Please share with us the strength to get through this life without you.

"You were the most wonderful friend to have and forever wouldn’t have been long enough with you. Rest in Peace Odhrán, we love you.”

After the funeral ended, his friends and family surrounded the coffin and bowed their heads for a few moments before it was taken out of the chapel.