Family in pain

Lillian Bonnes revealed that her daughter, Fiona, who should have marked her 34th birthday last Friday, is so deeply traumatised that she was taken away from the family's Tullyally home for a few days' mental respite in Donegal.

On Monday afternoon Lillian Bonnes unburdened her heart in a frank interview with The Sentinel about the family's feelings about the support they had received from young people who were Kyle's friends, their neighbours and friends.

Acknowledging that Kyle was "no angel" Mrs Bonnes said the family had, nevertheless been shocked by the sensational nature of some news reports, and although the Police Ombudsman's report into the incident in which Kyle died is ongoing, she has called for complete transparency and the exact truth about what led to Klye's death to be brought to light as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, her husband, William, who was the last family member to speak to Kyle before the tragedy on the Faughan River unfolded, revealed that his grandson had phoned him and he had granted him permission to stay out with friends until 7.15pm on that Wednesday night. Just hours later William was asked by police if his grandson had any distinguishing marks or tattoos, and later that night Lillian said she was called into the mortuary to identify her grandson's remains.

"As a parent you don't expect to bury your child, but you should never have to bury your grandchild. To see Kyle lying there was a terrible shock. He looked just like a little boy, but all the spirit was gone out of him," she said.