THE priest who led Sean Hamilton’s funeral service drew on his own warm memories of a boy who was “a precious gift to us”.

Speaking during the service at Our Lady’s Church in Gale Lane, Acomb, Father Pat Smith described Sean as “special and cherished” and “God’s gift to us all”.

He said: “Only those who have experienced such a tragedy can understand your feelings at this moment – those who have not suffered such a loss can only guess what your pain must be and admire the courage and strength which you have shown at such a sad and difficult time.

“Sean was kind, bright and funny, he was a great goalkeeper and a fine rugby player, and these talents made him a precious gift to us. He was special and cherished.”

He said: “I remember Sean’s lovely Glasgow accent, which always warmed my heart and made me smile when he read in church.

“I used to think ‘that’s a really friendly voice – one I can understand’.

“Let us thank God for the love he gave us in Sean, let us thank Sean for his love which he lavished on his family and friends. He was God’s gift to us all, he was our friend and we loved him.

“None of that has been taken from us. It has been changed in a manner we cannot yet understand, but because we have faith we can believe that all is well – and for Sean, all will be well forever.

“May he rest in peace.”