Son, three, is buried in the arms of dad who killed him in car crash murder-suicide
The pair were buried together at the request of his mother, who kissed the coffin during the funeral
TRAGIC Alex James Velocci was laid to rest yesterday, wrapped in the arms of his dad who killed him.
Marco Velocci, 28, and his three-year-old son, died when the car they were travelling in smashed head-on into an articulated truck in Limerick in a suspected murder-suicide on Tuesday.
And the request by injured mum Jodie that the son and dad would be together in a single coffin was described at their funeral Mass as “a profound testimony to the power of compassion and love”.
The tragedy unfolded when Marco called to his ex-partner Jodie’s home in the small village of Oola on Tuesday.
He seriously assaulted and stabbed her when she tried to stop him taking little Alex.
A short time later Marco, who lived in the neighbouring village of Lattin, Co Tipperary, drove his car into an oncoming articulated truck — killing both of them instantly.
Gardai believe it was a murder-suicide as the impact happened on a 15m-wide straight stretch of the N24 Limerick-Tipperary national roadway 2km from Oola village.
The collision happened after the 28-year-old apparently veered on to the wrong side of the road.
Flowers, tributes and a teddy bear have been left at the scene by devastated family and friends.
Yesterday, hundreds of people packed into the Church of the Sacred Heart in Oola, while many more stood outside to pay their respects to both families.
Ten minutes before Mass, heartbroken Jodie was wheeled up the Church in a wheelchair stopping in front of the coffin on which sat framed pictures of Alex and his dad.
She stood up and in a poignant gesture kissed the coffin.
Fr John Morris told of the love and joy that little Alex, who was always happy and loving, had brought into the hearts and homes of both the Power and Velocci families.
He said: “In the three short years of his life Alex brought great love and happiness to everyone.”
And he told how on the day before the deaths, Alex had spent a happy day with his mum and dad.
But he also spoke of the darkness that surrounded Marco Veloccis.
He said: “Marco was a much loved son and brother. Marco loved Alex but it is a human story that love manifests itself in a perverse way.
“Marco’s life was in a dark place filled with despair unreachable to the love of his family.”
But he said there was signs of love and especially hope “in the love and solidarity shown over the past few days” with the community reaching out to those bereaved.
He said: “I have seen the signs of love and hope these past days amongst us.
“First of all there is the solidarity within each family in this time of shock and torment. The support and the goodness of our community here reaching out to them.
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“Jodie’s wonderful friends, who have stayed around her, hardly leaving her side since this happened.”
He also thanked the truck driver who had made a long journey with his daughter to offer his sympathy at the removal.
He went on: “But perhaps the brightest light shining in the darkness is the coffin in front of us which at Jodie’s request contains the bodies of both Marco and Alex.
“This is a profound testimony to the power of compassion and love between two families, stricken and heartbroken — a light shining in the darkness.”
Symbols of the lives of Marco and Alex were brought to the altar by young relatives recalling happy families in happier times.
One brought forward a hurley and ball. The narrator said “Alex loved playing hurling with his grandad John. His number one skill was holding the hurley upside down and his nana Liz would often say ‘He will play for Limerick’.”
Another brought a Stickman DVD. “Alex endlessly watched it with his dad.”
A Paw Patrol bag was brought and the narrator said it was probably full of the sweets Alex used to take from a relative’s secret stash by pretending he was going to the toilet.
Another brought a fishing rod. “It was one of Marco’s passions. He loved nature. No doubt he thought that he would supply his dad’s shop with what he would catch.”
A poignant photograph was also brought forward.
The narrator said: “This was taken when Alex met his baby brother Patrick for the very first time. He was looking at his mother with love. The happiness and love shining from him was a constant picture in his life.”
Fr Morris spoke of last Tuesday which was the sunniest and brightest day of the year
But he said that within hours darkness had entered their community with the deaths and went on: “It knocked us in the manner of the tragedy and the impact it had on us.
“Two families utterly devastated, broken in heart and spirit searching for answers knowing that there were none.
“This morning we realise how words are feeble instruments to express our feelings.
“We think of Alex how in three short years of his life he brought such love and happiness to everyone.
“Jodie you will forever carry him in your love. He will be forever young and we place him in God’s tender care
“We pray this morning that Marco has found peace in God’s presence.
“This morning we stand with both families and embrace you with our loving support. We ask that the healing of God will visit us in our time of grief.
“We would change the past if we could, but in planning for the future we know that things will never be the same again.
“Let’s look on the coffin this morning with the bodies of Marco and Alex and reflect on the great loss to their families.
“In these painful days help us and teach us to be more loving, more compassionate, more humble, to cherish one another, then this will become a living, worthy and lasting memorial.”
Prayers were said for the families, the emergency services, the lorry driver as well as University Hospital Limerick staff.
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