Andy Cardy funeral: Father of murdered Co Antrim school girl faced life with ‘great courage' despite tragedy, mourners told

Belfast Telegraph

27-05-2025

Mr Cardy was the father of nine-year-old Jennifer Cardy, who was abducted and murdered in 1981 in one of Northern Ireland's most harrowing child killings.
He died earlier this month at his home in the Crumlin Road area.
Family and friends gathered for the service at Hillsborough Elim Church earlier this morning, where friend and church elder Geoff Donaldson described Mr Cardy as someone who brought 'colour' to the lives of everyone he knew.
Speaking during the service, Mr Donaldson talked about particular memories of Mr Cardy, including his late wife Pat and late daughter Jennifer, adding that there was rarely a time both 'don't come into the discussion' during family gatherings.
The church elder also highlighted Mr Cardy's faith and his desire for his funeral service to reflect his love of God.
"We all carry today our memories of Andy,' he told the packed church.
"There was one word which stood out in my mind as I was spending time in the Cardy household and that is that Andy brought colour to our lives.
"Those of you who visited the household know he literally brought colour to our lives.
"Very distinctive colours.
"In fact not long after Pat had passed away, Andy was doing a bit of renovation in the house.
"He insisted in showing many of us round each room of the house to show the nine carpets I think it was he had bought and the different rooms all with colours galore.
"None of them seemed to corelate to anything else in the room but he loved it. That was so typical of Andy. His socks and his shirts also had a colour about them.
"It was also the colour of his vitality, his enthusiasm, his desire to live life to the full. He had a passion for life and a passion for God.'
He added: 'One of the things about going to do a pastoral visit to Andy Cardy was that you weren't sure when you went and came away whether you were more blessed by him than you had tried to bless him.
"There was no visit I made to Andy in the last year when he didn't send me off with a verse of scripture in my ears just to ponder on and reflect on for the rest of the day.
'As life grew tough for Andy towards the end with pain and that discomfort that came, the word of God still brough him confidence and hope.
"I know he prayed for his family. He prayed for friends. He was always just praying. He was a prayerful man.'
Meanwhile, pastor Alistair Ritchie, in his tribute at the service to Mr Cardy said: 'Andy was a really remarkable person. I had the privilege of knowing Andy from 2004… when I think of Andy I think of that big handshake. Or a big hug.
"If you got the hug you had to breathe again afterwards. That was just Andy.
"He loved his cars as well. He just loved life. I think there was something really contagious about that.
"Many of you will know Andy was involved in children's work. He was a leader, teaching the Gospel to boys and girls in good news clubs for 30 years.
"He has left an impact on so many children's lives in a beautiful way.
"Life for Andy and Pat was loving and caring, bringing up their children and serving the Lord. Life for Andy and Pat though wasn't always a bed of roses. We know a lot of their story it wasn't always easy and yet they faced difficulties with such grace and courage.'
A funeral notice said Mr Cardy was the: 'Dearly loved and devoted husband of the late Patricia (Pat). Much loved and loving dad of Mark, Phillip, Victoria and the late Jennifer. Father-in-law to Karen, Susan and Andy. Cherished grandfather and great-grandfather. Loving brother to Elizabeth and the late Tom.'