Exclusive: Dominican students raise money for Memorial Cup in memory of classmate

Miki McCallum was just 13 when he underwent a routine appendix operation and never regained consciousness.

The teenager had been a pupil at Dominican College and last week his parents Roger and Libby were invited to the school by Miki's classmates who were holding a special leaving ceremony before departing to sit their A levels.

At the event, Roger and Libby were shown the new Miki McCallum Memorial Cup for Sporting Endeavour which was bought by the sixth form students in memory of their young classmate.

They were also presented with a Book of Condolence by school principal Dr Bob Cummings. The book gathered together thoughts, prayers and poems of Miki's classmates following his tragic death five years ago.

One example of the messages contained was : "Miki you were special to all of us in Dominican. I was in your class so I know what it feels like to lose a special friend. You are in a special place in our hearts. RIP Miki xox"

Miki's father Roger said: "The idea of the Miki McCallum Memorial Cup is a lovely one which will be kept going each year. It was presented to us by head boy Jordan Jones and head girl Ruth Fleming.

"We also attended the Leavers' Mass in the school chapel which was a very pleasant experience.

"The Mass looked back on the memories of all the six formers who are leaving the school and that included Miki who would have been with them too.

"The Leavers' Mass also featured some of the songs which we had at Miki's funeral at Agherton Church in Portstewart. His funeral was conducted by the minister from Agherton, two priests and two members of the Salvation Army which reflected the diversity we need more of in Northern Ireland.

"So it was wonderful to hear some of that music again and also that Fr Raymond McCullough, who was one of the priests at Miki's funeral, conducted the Leavers' Mass."

Roger used the opportunity to pay warm tribute to the staff and students of Dominican College.

"We are Protestants and Dominican is a Catholic school but with almost 40% of students who are not Catholics. I believe that there are proposals to introduce just one Catholic school for the whole Coleraine area and I think it would be very unfortunate if Dominican were to be closed down.

"It is a very friendly and welcoming school and is truly integrated without being formally integrated. It is a great asset to Portstewart and that was reflected in the way that the students and staff dealt with Miki's death.

"My oldest son was a pupil there and my other son is there at the moment. The school’s ethos produces good citizens, I believe.

“Shortly after he died, I found an old homework of Miki’s where he had been asked to give an example of a gift or talent that he would like to develop in the future.

“He wrote that he would like to develop his skills as a footballer and possibly play for the school team and that he would like to develop his art.

“Finally he said ‘I would also like to develop my friending gift because everybody in Dominican is my friend’.

“That sums it up for me. They operate a wonderful mentoring system which lots of other schools could learn from.”