Mourners told of boy with ‘huge personality’

Mourners told of boy with ‘huge personality’

7 August 2013

THE funeral has taken place of 10 year-old Aaron Macaulay, who died in a farming accident near Castlewellan.

Aaron was airlifted to Craigavon Area Hospital from his Rathfriland Road home last Tuesday afternoon but tragically could not be saved.

On Friday, the minister of Drumgooland Presbyterian Church, Rev. Michael Davidson, said Aaron’s parents, Maurice and Wendy, wanted the funeral to be a service of thanks for the 10 years they were blessed to have Aaron.

The youngest of five children, Aaron survived an earlier accident on the farm at the age of two, which the minister said made him “even more precious” to his family.

“Aaron may have been the youngest of the Macaulay family but he was never overlooked or unnoticed,” he said.

“Aaron was small but he had a huge personality and I believe he had a special calling and ministry to his family and to all of us who knew him...of bringing joy to all.

“He brought great joy to his parents Maurice and Wendy...he brought great joy to his brothers and sisters, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles throughout his life, he brought joy to us as a congregation here and to the staff and pupils of Drumadonnell Primary School and to all those in the community who knew him.”

The minister said that as a result of his previous accident, Aaron had a damaged arm that needed surgery and skin grafts at regular intervals.

“He never complained about his arm, although he was probably more troubled by it than anybody knew and he would often get tired in the afternoon at school,” he said.

“On each occasion he was faced with further surgery, he dealt with it with great calmness and bravery.”

He added: “The fact that Aaron was so full of life and so full of fun was all the more special because of what he had come through.”

Mr. Davidson said it had been “a devastating and heartbreaking week for all of us, particularly for Aaron’s family”.

Earlier, a private service at the family home was held. Following the church service, Aaron was buried in the graveyard adjoining Drumgooland Presbyterian Church.