The much loved Anthony Mulvey
THE MOTHER of a Belcoo student, who died tragically in a road accident last month has expressed her heartfelt thanks in the wake of “one of life’s most indescribably cruel and heart-breaking events.”
Anthony Mulvey, a 21-year-old fourth year pharmacy student at Queen’s University, died in a one vehicle car crash on Sunday, January 24 and his passing devastated the local community of Belcoo and beyond.
This week his mother Ann expressed thanks through an open letter, to everyone who offered their love, support and concern through the darkest time, including family who travelled from America and New Zealand to attend the funeral.
“No-one wants to bury their son, it is one of life’s most indescribably cruel and heart-breaking events. But I couldn’t have asked for a better and more fitting end to Anthony’s life. To see him carried to his rest by his father, brothers and uncles, followed by his maternal uncles, followed by his uncles-in-law and cousins and finally by his truest young friends was moving and comforting for me.
“Part of me thinks that Anthony was looking down and amused by all the fuss that he had caused – he would have loved that! I suppose that we all wonder what our lives are worth at times and Anthony’s funeral and wake brought home to me just how important he was to so many people, just how many lives he had touched for the better in his short time here.
“I will never forget the sight of his young friends standing by his coffin, smoothing his hair, holding his hand and totally puzzled by what had just happened. It is so comforting to know that my son’s life really meant something. Anthony was lucky to have found the love and friendship of Gemma, they were made to be together and brought each other such joy, I am blessed in having her in my life.”
Almost a month on from the tragedy Mrs Mulvey admits that life will never be the same again.
“It’s only now that for me that sense of loss is really kicking in, now that I’ve had time to think and to realise that he is never, ever coming through that door again. That I will never, ever have to harp at him to bring his washing from his room; will never, ever have to urge him to tidy up his own dishes.
“The loss I feel is so complete, I feel that there is a huge vacuum in my heart. There is a bond between a mother and a child that can’t really be explained, a bond that is forged in that first movement or that first kick long before we see each other and it exists when we won’t see each other again, but the bond is still there.
“Sometimes I feel that all the conversation and entertainment in the world won’t mask this emptiness, but I am grateful and feel very lucky to have so many people who still call and share their memories of Anthony.”
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