BY RONAN McSHERRY
THE death of a 10-year-old schoolboy while playing Gaelic football in Drumquin on Tuesday night has traumatised the local community.
Patrick ('Packie') Breen from Dregish collapsed during training for the local Michael Cusacks Under-13 side. It is the second tragedy to strike the Breen family as Patrick's cousin Mark Breen (11) died suddenly while on his way to school in September 1999.
It is understood Patrick fell to the ground without being involved in any tackles or physical contact. Emergency aid was given to the child but he was declared dead at the Erne Hospital a short time later.
Drumquin youth officer Noel Donnelly said everything possible was done to try to save the boy. He said a defibrillator was used and a doctor was present. A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out today (Thursday).
Patrick, the second youngest of six children, had started into P7 this week at Envagh PS in Dregish. His head teacher Orla Duffy said everyone at the school of 25 pupils was "absolutely devastated" by the news. Clearly distraught by the death, she read a statement on behalf of the school.
"As a school family, our thoughts are very much today with the Breen family especially the parents Jackie and Frankie and his brothers Stephen, Conor, Gary and Sean and sister Danielle. The pain that we are feeling is nothing to that of the Breen family. The whole community is in shock today. We extend our prayerful sympathy to all of them."
Ms Duffy went on to say, "Patrick was a lovely child looking forward with enthusiasm to the new school year. He had just started P7 and was talking about sitting his 11-plus. He was very popular with everybody in the school. He was a great footballer, the star of our team. He was a cherished member of our school family and will be sorely missed."
The head teacher said the other children at Envagh PS are 'devastated' and had been to Mass yesterday morning and are trying to deal with the tragedy 'hour by hour.'
Secretary of Dregish Gaelic Football Club, Liam Strain described the sudden death of the young player as, "the worst tragedy." He explained that Dregish did not have enough players to form underage teams and after canvassing the County Board they amalgamated last year with Drumquin up to Under 18 level.
He said, "The Breen family are completely wrecked. It is the absolute shock. The whole club and the community is completely numbed. Packie was part of a group of about half a dozen cubs went with the amalgamated team, Michael Cusacks. He loved football and would have played 24 hours a day if he could. The other children who were there are very traumatised and will need all our support. There were about a dozen boys on the pitch when Pac kie collapsed. We are all in total, total shock. You never see this coming."
The family priest Fr Colm O'Doherty is the chaplain at Envagh PS and often met Patrick at the school. He said, "He was a typical wee boy who just loved school. He loved his football. He loved life ... he really loved life. This is a terrible tragedy.
"I have been to the family home and they are in total shock and very grieved by the loss of the wee fellow."
Phone calls and messages of sympathy from public representatives have flooded into the Ulster Herald since the news of Patrick's death broke.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
