Mourners at the funeral of Toyosi Shitta-bey (15), who was stabbed to death in Tyrrelstown in west Dublin last week, were urged today to remain calm and not seek revenge for his killing.
The ceremony, conducted according to Islamic rites, began this morning with the ritual washing and embalming of the body at a Lucan funeral home, attended by Toyosi’s father, Segun Shitta-bey, brothers Sodiq (22) and Tunde (12) and close family members.
Later, many family friends, teachers, community leaders, football club officials, young school mates and soccer team-mates from Littlepace and Shelbourne football clubs filed past his open coffin.
The talented teen - who came from Nigeria to Ireland with his family 11 years ago - was on Shelbourne FC's books.
Afterwards, the coffin, draped in the Shelbourne flag, was driven by hearse to the cemetery at Newcastle, Co Dublin at the head of a long cortege facilitated by a Garda escort.
At the cemetery, the flag was replaced with the “Respect” flag of UEFA and friends from Littlepace formed a guard of honour as private prayers were said over the coffin, conducted away from the main group of mourners.
It was then returned to the graveside where the shrouded body was removed from the coffin amid emotional scenes and lowered gently into the grave to the waiting arms of two imams.
Clay was then thrown on the body, while the crowd chanted in praise of Allah.
The prayers were led by Imam Shehu Adeiji, who then spoke in English, calling for restraint. “No amount of protest, no demonstration will bring back his soul,” he told mourners.
Referring to a march planned for Dublin city centre on Saturday, he said: “Your good mind is what this boy needs, it is not fighting, it is not crying”.
He said Toyosi’s death was “a big lesson for everybody, so it can improve our lives”.
“Be law-abiding and follow the way of God. You should be praying for the soul of the boy,” he said, adding that mourners should give every kind of moral and financial assistance to his family. “Let us go to the family; if you have no money, then give good words. If you cannot visit, then use the phone or text messages to console them…”
In accordance with Nigerian custom, Mr Shitta-bey and his wife Bola did not attend the burial of their child. Both Sodiq and Tunde were at the graveside.
Also in attendance were Minister of State for Equality and Integration Mary White, the Nigerian Ambassador, Dr Kemafo Nonyerem Chikwe and Joe Higgins MEP.
Insp Gerry Bergin, Supt Dave Dowling and Sgt Vincent Connolly represented the family and community liaison services at Blanchardstown Garda station.
Toyosi, a third-year student at Hartstown Community School, was with four of his friends on their way back from the National Aquatic Centre on Good Friday night when they were attacked.
Two Dublin men were charged this week in connection with the killing.