Stephen Lynch remembered as a caring, funny and loving father

By Mary Dennehy

THE “generous hearts” of the people of Tallaght were praised at today’s funeral mass for murdered dad-of-three Stephen Lynch, whose sense of humour, caring nature and love for his family and friends was remembered by those present.

Hundreds gathered at St Aidan’s Church in Brookfield this morning to remember `the 32-year-old whose life was taken so suddenly and violently last Thursday, April 13 – when a car deliberately ran over him on Brookview Close.

Since the young dad’s death, the community of Tallaght has stood behind his family and shared their grief, despair and anger over the tragic loss of Stephen, who garda have confirmed was an “innocent young man” with no involvement in criminality.

That sense of solidarity was palpable in St Aidan’s Church this morning, as people of all ages stood side by side in grief – carrying each other and holding up Stephen’s distraught family.

During the mass, Stephen’s family and friends remembered and celebrated Stephen and laid gifts on the altar that included his runners, a Leeds jersey and photographs of his family, while members of Mark’s Celtic staged a guard of honour.

Stephen’s younger brother Ray and his mother Vera also fought back their grief to deliver a heart-moving eulogy, which remembered Stephen’s caring nature, his immense love for his family and his wicked sense of humour.

Before kissing the photograph of her son that rested on his coffin, Vera told those gathered: “[Stephen] was my son and I loved him.

“I thank everybody for their amazing support over the past few days but most of all I thank Stephen for making me so proud to be his mam and I thank [his son] Craig for being his mini-me, so that Stephen’s never really going to be gone.”

Just as Stephen’s light will continue to burn on in the hearts of his family and friends, the strength of the community’s light in these dark days was also acknowledged.

Leading the mass, Father Jimmy McPartland spoke of the ‘light in the darkness’ that the lanterns released at Stephen’s vigil outside the family home on Wednesday evening represented, and how he saw hope  and love in the large vigil crowd, the tears of those gathered and in each person holding a candle.

Speaking at the end of the funeral mass, Bishop Eamon Walsh said to Stephen’s family: “We can’t imagine the depths of your grief at a time like this, the hole that’s in your hearts, and the thoughts that are running though your head.

“What we know is that you couldn’t have got to this stage was it not for the wonderful and generous hearts of the people of Tallaght.

“Once again you have come up trumps and you have shown the depth of your care and your love and your outreach in so many ways – not just in words or on Facebook but in action, and every time I come to a funeral here I get so inspired that the heart of Tallaght is something so generous and so deep.

“You know and I know that we’re not going down the road of tit-for-tat and an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth, that’s only a spiral of violence that only ends in self destruction.”

Investigations into Stephen’s death are continuing, and anyone with any information is urged to contact Tallaght Garda station on 01-6666000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.