A relative of schoolboy Brooklyn Colbert is set to appear in court this morning in connection with his murder.
Gardai charged the man, aged in his 20s, last night after the 11-year-old’s body was found in a house in Ballynanty, Limerick city, on Sunday night.
He will appear in court just an hour before Brooklyn is laid to rest at a nearby cemetery.
Last night local parish priest Fr Donal McNamara said: “It’s horrendous, an awful tragedy. He was an only child. It must be shattering for his family.”
He added the whole of Limerick was praying for the boy’s family.
Fr McNamara, of St Munchin’s Parish, said: “The sadness is palpable around the north side of Limerick, and all over.
“Everybody is so hurt and so upset over the whole thing. It’s horrendous, an awful tragedy.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
“The people of the northside are so loving and welcoming and they are all so hurt over this.”
Gardai confirmed the man is due to appear before Limerick District Court at 10am today in connection with the murder investigation.
They stated “for operational reasons” they weren’t releasing details of how Brooklyn died.
The man will appear in court one hour before the popular schoolboy’s body is laid to rest at Mount St Oliver Cemetery, just a 10-minute drive from Limerick’s District Court.
He handed himself in to gardai shortly after Brooklyn’s body was found.
