Northern Ireland

Jay Moffett: Teenager who died in Scarva swimming tragedy laid to rest

Co Down schoolboy Jay Moffett was laid to rest yesterday. Picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker
Co Down schoolboy Jay Moffett was laid to rest yesterday. Picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker Co Down schoolboy Jay Moffett was laid to rest yesterday. Picture by Arthur Allison, Pacemaker

A TEENAGE boy who died in a Co Down swimming tragedy was laid to rest from his home in Scarva yesterday.

Jay Moffett (13) got into difficulty while swimming with friends in a lake in the Canal Court area of the Co Down village on Monday.

Mourners gathered outside the teenager's home at Scarva Heights for a socially distanced service yesterday afternoon.

Most people dressed in either white or light colours, as Jay's family had requested.

Friends of the Tandragee Junior High School pupil had raised the alarm after he got into difficulties.

Jay's father Wayne and a family friend desperately fought to save him as the emergency services arrived on the scene. He later died in hospital.

Representatives from the emergency services attended yesterday's service.

Mourners lined the funeral route as the cortege made its way from the family home.

The funeral was followed by a graveside service at Banbridge New Cemetery.

Jay’s parents, Wayne and Caroline, had asked for family flowers only and encouraged donations to be sent to the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland Service.

His family said they were "heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Jay".

"He was a much loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin who lit up the lives of everyone who knew him in his 13 years," they said.

Meanwhile, a man in his sixties died yesterday after he was spotted unconscious in the water at Dollymount strand in Dublin.

He was brought to shore but pronounced dead at the scene.

A Garda spokesman said officers attended at around 1.30pm.

"His body has been removed to Dublin City Mortuary for post mortem. Inquiries are ongoing," a spokesman said.

The man was the sixth person in Ireland to die in a swimming-related incident this week.