A great father who was ‘taken in a cruel way’
By Maurice Garvey
A PACKED congregation at the Church of the Transfiguration in Bawnogue, heard murdered Vincent Parsons (34) was a “great dad” taken in the “cruellest way.”
Mr Parsons, a married father of two from Melrose Lawns in Clondalkin, was found with severe head injuries on the night of Saturday, August 24 in Tallaght.
Vincent Parsons
He died from his injuries two days later.
Gerard Kennedy, the victim’s brother-in-law, told mourners at the funeral that Vincent “was one of the nicest and most honest men you could ever meet.”
“He was the same man to us all, and life was too short for Vincent. Life can be cruel at times, and this is one of those times.”
Mourners at the Bawnogue church were led by Vincent’s wife Claire, daughter Jade (14) and son Gerard (5).
Mr Kennedy told how his sister Claire had the “happiest days of her life” with Vincent and the couple’s pride in their two “great” children.
During the service, Vincent’s son Gerard (5), brought his dad’s welding helmet to the altar as a symbol of his working life, and Jade carried a family photograph.
Father Patrick Coughlan spoke of the “utter shock” from a “senseless act of savagery”.
“It takes hours, days, weeks, months, and years to raise a child to the point where they can marry and raise a family and make their way in the world,” said Fr Coughlan.
“And it took just a few minutes to see all those years of love and commitment and sacrifice wiped out in a senseless act of savagery, leaving a young wife, young children, his mother and siblings in absolute freefall.”
After the funeral Mass, Vincent was buried in Newlands Cross cemetery.
