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Parents mourn “smiling” Hugh
13.01.11
by Linda McGrory
A GRIEVING mother will today lead mourners at the
funeral of her eight year old son who died
tragically earlier this week in Gleneely.
Hugh Simpson-Callaghan suffered an asthma attack
while eating his dinner at the family home on Monday
evening.
Leanne Simpson said her son, the third born in a
family of five, was full of energy despite suffering
chronic asthma and using an inhaler. He was treated
in hospital two days before Christmas with a bad
chest, she said. |
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"We are heartbroken. No
words can describe how we are feeling. Hugh was our
loveable wee rogue," she said. He was thrilled when
she told him about a unique birthday he would
celebrate later this year. "He turned eight on
November 11 and I told him his birthday this year
would be 11.11.11, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. He
thought this was absolutely brilliant." Leanne and
Hugh's devastated step father, Sean Callaghan,
described how they rushed Hugh in their van to the
out-of-hours NowDoc service at Carndonagh Community
Hospital 4km away. He had begun feeling unwell at
the dinner table just before 7pm but his condition
deteriorated |
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The late Hugh Simpson-Callaghan. |
rapidly.
There has been a huge outpouring of sympathy in the
small rural village as scores of people call to pay
their respects at the family's dormer bungalow,
Riverview House. Family and friends were yesterday
comforting the youngster’s four siblings Jonny, 10,
Jade, 9, Keirsha, 3 and Séanice, 2.
Hugh was in second class at Craigtown N.S., and had
a "leading role" in the school's Christmas play
'Busy, Busy, Bethlehem'. School principal Gerard
O'Kane and staff members yesterday extended their
heartfelt sympathies to the family.
"Hugh loved school and carried out his school work
with great interest and enthusiasm. He was popular
with all children in our school and was full of fun
and laughter. He was always smiling. Hugh was a
friend to everyone. He will be very sadly missed by
all the staff and children, their parents and
members of our community," the school said in a
statement.
Meanwhile, parish priest Fr Jim McGonagle said the
entire locality was saddened by the youngster's
death.
"Everyone is very upset and there is a sense of
shock at what has happened. Hugh was into all sports
and was a very active wee lad," said Fr McGonagle.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Charlie McConalogue,
said: "It is a terrible loss and a tragedy whenever
a young child is taken away so suddenly from a
family. The hearts of everyone in our community go
out to the family at this sad time."
The funeral will take place this morning (Thursday)
at 11am in the Church of the Sacred Heart,
Carndonagh, followed by burial in the adjoining
cemetery. |
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