Tragic Ennis teenager Jack Dinan posthumously became a father for the first time on Tuesday – one day after his missing body was discovered.
At Jack's funeral Mass at St Joseph's Church in Ennis today, Jack's "big sister" Jade Dinan told mourners that baby Keelan Jack had been born on Tuesday this week.
The previous day, Jack’s body was found in a wooded area outside Ennis, six days after he had disappeared at 10am from his home, last Tuesday week, armed with a rifle taken from his home.
In an emotional address at the end of the Mass, Jade made a plea to those feeling alone or lost to seek help. She said: “The pain of suicide is something I would never wish on another family.”
Jade told mourners that little Keelan Jack “was born on the 7th of November and we are so, so grateful for this gift Jack has left behind”.
Tragic loss
Speaking on behalf of the Dinan family, Jade said: “My family has suffered a tragic loss when Jack (19) took his own life, but as one life ends another has begun.”
Jade said Keelan Jack “will always help us to remember Jack and it will make the pain a little easier”.
In a separate message from the Dinan family read out at the start of the Mass, Fr John McGovern also referred to the birth of baby Keelan Jack three days ago.
Fr McGovern said Jack’s girlfriend, Shanara, had given birth “to this beautiful little boy – and that name Jack will continue on and be remembered in his name”.
Fr McGovern said: “Jack was so in love with Shanara – they were inseparable. If there were more hours in the day, he would have spent them with her. Jack’s family are so grateful to Shanara for the love she shared with him and for keeping the memory and life of Jack alive in the form of her son’s name, Keelan Jack.”
The funeral Mass for the 19-year-old was the first of two Masses for young victims of suicide to take place in Ennis today, with the second Mass at lunchtime concerning a woman in her early 20s.
Supported by relatives at the altar, Jade Dinan said: “I am pleading to anybody out there if you are feeling lost, if you are feeling alone – don’t be ashamed to ask for help. There is always someone willing to listen.”
Pieta House
Jade then asked mourners to make a small donation at the Mass to suicide awareness charity, Pieta House, “to help prevent this from happening to other young people and their families in future”.
Jade said her “baby brother” Jack was such a good person, kind and gentle.
She said: “It broke our hearts this past week searching for you day and night, but now we have you back.”
She added: “I wish there was more I could have done to ease your pain.”
In an address that received sustained applause during a standing ovation, Jade thanked everyone involved in the “relentless search” for Jack, stating “we will never know how to repay you”.
In his message from the family, Fr McGovern said the family say “our hearts may be torn, but our love for Jack will never be lost or broken”.
He said Jade was a minder for her baby brother from an early age and that Jack became a guardian for his younger sister, Taylor.
He said: “Jack would always look out for Taylor – she was his little angel and now he is Jade’s and Taylor’s angel.”
Symbols of Jack’s life were presented at the altar, including gloves symbolising his thoughtfulness to others, and his camouflage hunting hat, symbolising his love of hunting and time spent with his father, Patrick.
Jack was later laid to rest at Drumcliffe cemetery, outside Ennis.
Jack is survived by his parents, Patrick and Lorna, sisters Jade and Taylor and girlfriend, Shanara.
*If you have been affected by issues in this article, help and support is available from the Samaritans on freephone 116123, or Freecall Pieta House at 1800 247 247, or email jo_at_samaritans.org
