Two young children who drowned on Friday in Newry, Co Down, were laid to rest today after a service in their home town.
Two-year-old David Smith and his friend Shea Laverty (4) died when they fell into a swimming pool in a neighbours home.
David's father found the pair and attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as a paramedic gave instructions over the phone. When the ambulance arrived the children were taken to Daisy Hill Hospital were staff tried for two hours to revive the boys.
Part of the Dublin Road was closed off as the funeral cortege left the boys' home in Ardaveen Drive this morning for requiem Mass at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Cloghoghue.
The boys' families had recently moved into Ardaveen and lived three doors apart. Shea Laverty would have been five next week. His younger brother was with the boys when they died but was unhurt.
Over 200 people attended the service this morning where parish priest, Fr Richard Naughton, said the boys parents had to overcome the "shock and heartbreak" but they now had "two little angels in heaven".
After the service, David's body was removed to the local cemetery, while Shea's body was brought to a family plot in Coalisland, Co Tyrone.
Speaking after the funeral, local Sinn Féin councillor Mr Charlie Casey - a relative of David said: "The prayers and support of the community have been very heart warming for both families and we can only hope and pray that with these prayers and support that in time both families may be able to come to terms with their tragic loss".
Church-goers throughout Ireland prayed for the families of the children yesterday and President McAleese sent her sympathies to the families.