Brooke Reid funeral: Family of fire death girl ‘overwhelmed with love’

The true colours of a mid-Antrim community were on show mourners were told, as a housing estate bade a tearful farewell to 12-year-old fire victim Brooke Reid.
Brooke Reid's mother Martha (centre) with family and friends at her 12-year-old daughter's funeral in BallymenaBrooke Reid's mother Martha (centre) with family and friends at her 12-year-old daughter's funeral in Ballymena
Brooke Reid's mother Martha (centre) with family and friends at her 12-year-old daughter's funeral in Ballymena

Rev Dr Martin McNeely said that what they had witnessed was an “incredible coming together” of people following the tragedy which claimed the schoolgirl’s life, amid what was “a very dark moment in the history of the estate”.

The fire brigade had been called to the scene of the blaze in Staffa Drive on the large Ballykeel estate in east Ballymena during early evening on Thursday.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house, but Brooke had died.

Brooke Reid died in a fire at her home on ThursdayBrooke Reid died in a fire at her home on Thursday
Brooke Reid died in a fire at her home on Thursday

Prior to the funeral today, grandfather Billy McMaster had issued an emotional message on social media saying: “Please Lord, grant me the power to get through today.

“I’m totally broken-hearted but I just want to say a massive thank you to the community and people near and far for your sincere kindness ...

“Love you so much and I will deeply miss you my angel Brooke.

“I know you are with me. I hope I do you proud by the send-off I give you.

Brooke Reid’s funeral cortege makes its way through the Ballykeel estate in BallymenaBrooke Reid’s funeral cortege makes its way through the Ballykeel estate in Ballymena
Brooke Reid’s funeral cortege makes its way through the Ballykeel estate in Ballymena

“Have fun up there with all your family loved ones.”

The service at the home of grandfather Billy and grandmother Patricia in Inchkeith Road began at around 1.30pm with song and poetry from Brooke’s family and friends.

The family were inside, and other mourners were outside.

Rev McNeely recounted how Mr McMaster told mourners that the Ballykeel estate was frequently “in the headlines for the wrong reasons” (having been the scene of two unrelated killings in recent months) – but that “the true Ballykeel, the Ballykeel that has united behind this grieving family, was on show today; the family were overwhelmed with the love shown to them”.

Mourners, including mother Martha and other family members, follow Brooke Reid's coffinMourners, including mother Martha and other family members, follow Brooke Reid's coffin
Mourners, including mother Martha and other family members, follow Brooke Reid's coffin

Jessica McKay, one of Brooke’s best friends, spoke of their shared love of the social media program Tik Tok, of scribbling into the steamed-up school bus windows, and of all the laughter they shared in Ballykeel and Dunclug schools.

There were in fact three different churchmen involved in the service – Rev McNeely, the Church of Ireland’s Rev Mark McConnell of St Patrick’s parish, and Pastor Thomas Todd of Ballykeel Pentecostal Church.

Whilst the McMaster family were historically connected with the Church of Ireland, Brooke went to clubs at all different churches, and was a committed member in particular of the Campaigners (a Bible study group with the pentecostal church).

Pastor Todd told mourners that Brooke had been a “fun loving” girl who enjoyed buying carrots for a horse that lived nearby, and had dreamed of becoming a vet.

She also loyally followed her father Geoff in his commitment to the Harryville Homers football team.

And when it came to Rev McNeely’s turn to speak, he told the grieving attendees: “Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. He cried real tears of heart water as we all cry today.

“But Jesus promises to make all things new and to usher in a new Heaven and a new Earth without death and without crying.

“Until that time, we are promised the Holy Spirit of comfort and are resolved to walk with father Geoff, mother Martha and the entire Reid and McMaster family circle.”

Rev McConnell said the closing prayer. The hearse was taken past her old primary school, past the scene of the fire, and to Ballee graveyard – with local piper Duane Johnston playing a lament.

Afterwards, Rev McNeely said: “I think today we saw two things. One was again shock and trauma in our community. But we also saw an incredible coming together of the community in support of the family.

“That sense of unity with the family was very, very tangible. As a preacher of hope and Christian minister, in the middle of it all I live and pastor in the hope that we can see better days.

“But for now, it’s a very dark moment in the history of the estate.”

He said people had lined the route that the hearse took.

Speaking to the News Letter in the immediate wake of the tragedy last week, the reverend had said: “There was a fatal stabbing just at the start of July and a number of suicides and drug-related deaths within the last year.

“This is the sixth young person I will have buried since last December.”

Ballykeel was built in the 1960s and 70s, and is split into two parts: Ballykeel I (in the west) and Ballykeel II (in the east). It had a combined population of over 1,600 people at the time of the last Census, according to the Housing Executive.

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