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Two-year-old road victim Ronan McGavigan was a ‘bundle of joy'

Ronan McGavigan who died when he was struck by a car on Derry's Lone Moor Road
Ronan McGavigan who died when he was struck by a car on Derry's Lone Moor Road Ronan McGavigan who died when he was struck by a car on Derry's Lone Moor Road

A TWO-YEAR-OLD  Derry child who died after being struck by a car on Sunday afternoon has been described as a "bundle of joy" who brought "so much happiness and so much joy" to his family.

Ronan McGavigan was hit by by a silver Citroen Picasso car on the Lone Moor Road on Sunday at around 1.15pm and later died at Altnagelvin Hospital from his injuries.

Fr Eamon Graham, parish priest at St Columba's Church, Long Tower, said little Ronan's death was "every parent's worst nightmare".

"By all accounts he was a bundle of life, a bundle of joy. He was very much a character even though he was only two and a half. His mother said to me yesterday he brought so much happiness and so much joy to them and in those two and a half years," he said.

Fr Graham said Ronan's parents had been left "devastated", with his death leaving a "hole that will never be filled", but were heartened by the memories made together on a recent family holiday to Spain.

The death of the toddler has stunned the neighbouring community on the Lone Moor Road, according to Fr Graham.

"It's always a hive of activity, a hive of life, but when I was over last night it was in complete silence. There's just so much sadness. It is hard to put into words. All you can do is be with the family and support them," he said.

Sinn Féin councillor Patricia Logue, who visited the house on Monday said the family were "full of admiration" for the support they have received so far from the close-knit local community.

"It's just an awful tragedy and the parents are really finding it very hard to come to terms with the enormity of what has happened," she added.

A post mortem was due to be carried out on Monday and the remains of Ronan McGavigan were due to return to the family home in Derry late on Monday night.

The funeral is set to take place on Wednesday at 11.30am in St Columba's Church, Long Tower.

Following the tragedy friends of the young Derry boy's family set up a Justgiving page to help pay for any expenses.

In less than two days the page has raised almost £3,000.

Donations can be made by visiting crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Little-Ronan

Police have appealed for information about the crash.