A talented Gaelic player laid to rest

The GAA led a guard of honour at the boy’s funeral at St Michael’s Church on Wednesday where up to a thousand people attended to pay their last respects.

Fr Peter McNeill said, “He was someone who was full of fun. He was a pleasant and a decent young fellow, handsome with a great love and talent for Gaelic. He was very interested in football and played full back for the East Down Development Team.”

Fr McNeill said that his death sent shock waves amongst the community many of which attended the funeral.

“There were many who attended his funeral from 
all sections and walks 
of the Christian community.

“Outside the church there was a beautiful silence not an eery silence but a respectful silence for someone so young. It was not a problem saying anything good about him. He was well loved by everyone who knew him who was close to his friends and family. He was quite remarkable for someone so young who had an eye for the ladies and they too adored him - he was both handsome 
and charming.”

Kevin drowned along with 39-year-old Colin Polland at a disused quarry in Annalong on Saturday evening.

Kevin got into difficulty, a friend ran for help and Mr Polland jumped into the water to try to rescue the teenager at Paul’s Quarry in the Glassdrumman Road area near the seaside village.

His school principal described Kevin as a well respected and popular student.

Joan McCombe, principal at St Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan where Kevin was a Year 11 pupil, said that Kevin was a “wonderful young man”.

“Kevin was a wonderful ambassador for St Malachy’s - a young man that embodied goodness and kindness, a son that any parent would be proud of, and a student that we as teachers were privileged to know,” she said.

“When he put on the school jersey he played with commitment, he played with passion and the school teams will be the poorer because of Kevin going. He will be sadly missed by us all. Kevin was a well-respected, popular and highly-regarded student.”

Joan McCombe said that special assemblies were taking place at the school and counsellors based in the school to help students cope with the sad loss.

“On behalf of the governors, staff and students of St Malachy’s, I extend deepest sympathy and condolences to Kevin’s parents, brothers and wider family circle. They are in our thoughts and prayers at this most sad and 
difficult time,” the head teacher added.

Sinn Féin councillor Paul Gribben described the school boys death as shocking.

“He was a very talented footballer rising to the county level. Everyone looked up to him, he was well respected.”

Alliance South Down Councillor Patrick Clarke said: “I would like to commend the efforts of the PSNI divers, the Fire and Rescue Service, and the coastguard who were involved in trying to rescue both men.”

DUP South Down MLA Jim Wells described the incident as an “awful tragedy”, adding that the local community was “shocked to learn of the loss of life of a man and boy as a result of drowning.”

A police investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.