MOURNERS at the funeral of Co Armagh schoolboy Callum Morrow yesterday heard how he was a "loveable child with a heart of gold".
There were emotional scenes as many of the eight-year-old's friends and football team-mates, who had formed a guard of honour outside St Peter's Church in Lurgan, broke down in tears as his coffin was brought for Requiem Mass.
Hundreds of people packed into the church with many wearing Liverpool FC football jerseys - Callum's favourite team. The young boy's small coffin was also adorned with red and white flowers, the colours associated with the club.
The little boy from Garland Avenue in Lurgan died in a two-car collision on the Aughnacloy Road outside Banbridge on Saturday.
His brother James (6) and father Stephen Brennan were also injured in the crash. They are believed to have been returning home from a day trip to Newcastle when the tragedy happened.
Canon Liam Stevenson told the congregation of how Callum's death had left "many broken hearts" and his family were "really struggling with this huge loss".
The parish priest said Callum's brother James, who was also wearing a Liverpool top and had his arm in a sling, was "bravely nursing a broken shoulder" while his father "was here today under medical supervision" after being released from hospital.
Canon Stevenson said Callum, a pupil at Carrick Primary School, had a love of sport and in particular football.
"Like any young boy, he was sports mad - a fervent Liverpool supporter and played soccer with the Lurgan Celtic grassroots team who provided a guard of honour for his funeral," he said.
"Callum, as well as being sports-mad, also loved reading. His favourite author was David Walliams.
"Like his classmates, he loved his Play Station and he wanted to be a marine biologist."
The priest said Callum had just finished Primary Four and among the highlights of his school year was celebrating his First Holy Confession and First Holy Communion.
Canon Stevenson added: "He was a loveable child with a heart of gold".
Family member Elaine Morrow read a poem at the end of the mass describing the young boy as "our precious little Callum".
She said he was a star in the sky that "shines so beautiful just as you did on earth and every night when we look up we pray to God for this".
"Callum do one little thing and catch this one great kiss," she said.
Following the service, to the music of 'You Will Never Walk Alone', Callum's coffin was carried from the church for burial in St Colman's Cemetery.
Callum is survived by his parents Mandy and Stephen, brother James and family circle.
