Dad of boy, 6, who died after found unresponsive in car in Waterford plans touching tribute to ‘honour' his son memory

The Irish Sun

17-05-2025

A DAD whose son's died after being found unresponsive in a car in Waterford last year is determined to finish a plan he had started with his young lad before his tragic passing.
Matthew Healy, 6, was found in a vehicle in Dunmore East on February 9 last year, and he sadly passed away despite the best efforts of paramedics to save him.
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A second year of a fund-raising in memory of Matthew Healy is set to take place on Sunday, May 18 at 2pm
Credit: Journalist Collect
Dad James, from Watergrasshill, Co
Matthew, who would have been 8 on May 17, loved car and bike shows, so on Sunday, James has organised a motorcycle and vintage car run that he knows his little boy would have loved.
James said he is hoping Sunday's event will be as successful as last year.
He said: 'It's poignant his birthday falls on national bike week. He was massive into his cycling. He loved it and loved his bike. We did a lot of cycling together, me and Matthew.
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"We were looking for a Honda 50 shortly before he died. The plan was we would restore it as a project but unfortunately that didn't happen for obvious reasons, but I since acquired two of them actually. I am going to do them up - one for him and one for me."
He told JP McNamara, on C103's Cork Today show, that Matthew would have loved the fundraising rally this weekend.
James said: 'He would have been front and centre. He would be around sitting into everyone's car. That's the way he would have been.
"He was big into mechanics and things and even when he was very small I got him a little electric jeep and he spent more time under it than he did driving it. That gives an idea of the character he was.'
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James recalled bringing Matthew to a work do and when asked if he wanted to sit inside he said no and headed out to mingle.
He remembered: 'Matthew sat around at various tables having a big chat before he came back. He was very independent and devilment was key.
'I'd say what devilment he would have got up to now and in the future would have been unreal.
'He loved cooking and making pancakes. He was going to make his own using hazelnuts instead of Nutella. He decided they were so good he was going to go into business. He had it all planned out. There was factories and all types of things planned."
FUNDRAISER PLANS
To remember Matthew, James has organised the fundraiser in his home place of Watergrasshill.
James said: 'It will be very similar to last year. We will be holding a vintage car and motorcycle run. Registration will begin from 1pm. The run, which will be relatively short, will leave Watergrasshill at 2pm and we should be arriving back about an hour later.
'There's music and food trucks and different things happening around and the ice cream van will be going full tilt again this year. We are hoping for a family fun day out."
Speaking about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, James said: 'They came very much to the forefront in this journey.
'When Matthew died initially we chose Make-A-Wish as our chosen charity to put on his death notice in lieu of flowers at the time.
'JOURNEY CONTINUED'
'We have continued the journey with them and thankfully they have stayed with us.
'It's a charity that spoke to us about Matthew. He was made for a bit of adventure and thankfully we never needed them as there was no illness or anything like that with him.
'We were free to do those things and the children they help are children who are dealing with very significant issues from a health perspective. These adventures are a wish or a dream and if we can be part of making that happen - to give these kids a break from having to worry about medical issues or treatments or anything, it just spoke to us.
'For them it is all about the mental break that kids can switch away from the hardships that are in their lives and that's very powerful for them."
Discussing himself, James said: "We are managing to continue in life. That's hugely important.
"Matthew doesn't have the opportunity now that I have in terms of life. It's fierce important for his memory to honour him to make the best we can of life despite the horrendous grief and pain that we are dealing with."
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Matthew Healy was found in a vehicle in Dunmore East on February 9 last year, and he sadly passed away despite the best efforts of paramedics to save him
Credit: Journalist Collect