A PARISH priest broke down several times during the Requiem Mass of a seven-year-old west Belfast girl who was knocked down.
Kaitlin McCoubrey-Fullerton died after she was struck by a car on Springhill Avenue shortly after 6.10pm on Saturday.
Parish priest Fr Patrick McCafferty celebrated the Mass of the Angels at Corpus Christi Church in Ballymurphy yesterday afternoon.
Kaitlin's white coffin sat before the altar along with photos and her school jumper.
Mourners heard that Kaitlin was due to make her First Communion on May 29.
In an emotional homily, Fr McCafferty acknowledged that her family were enduring a "very distressing day".
His voice shook and he became visibly upset several times as he read a tribute from Kaitlin's teachers at John Paul II Primary School on Whiterock Road.
The teachers said the primary four pupil was delighted to return to lessons following a long lockdown.
"Kaitlin told us that she was very happy coming back to school," Fr McCafferty said.
"She felt proud of herself. Nothing was worrying her. The best thing about being home was playing with her sisters Shannon, Sophie and Cliona. The thing she was most looking forward to in school was playing with her friends.
"The one thing she wanted us as teachers to know was 'I love school'.
"Kaitlin was a quiet, happy little girl. She arrived into school every morning with her water, her snack and a smile."
Fr McCafferty said the church would normally be packed with mourners keen to support Kaitlin's family but coronavirus regulations meant that only a small number of people could attend.
He said Kaitlin's death was a "terrible tragedy".
"The whole community is heartbroken at the sudden loss of this immensely-loved little girl," he said.
"The darkness of sorrow has descended on all of us."
He said Kaitlin "was on Springhill Avenue on Saturday evening and in seconds she was in heaven".
"There are no words to describe the sorrow, the heartbreak of her parents, her family, all those who love her," he said.
Kaitlin, from Sliabh Dubh View, is survived by her parents Jennifer and Andrew, sisters Cliona, Shannon and Sophie and wider family circle.
A candle-lit vigil in memory of Kaitlin was held on Monday night.
