Mikey Brown: 'He was a nice fella just living life' - Glenavy cleric says victims families 'distraught' after horror collision
The Parish Priest in Glenavy, the Very Reverend Fr Colm McBride, said ‘the community are very shocked’ after Saturday’s collision killed two young people.
Father Colm McBride said the funeral for Mikey Brown was being held in his parish at noon on Thursday in St Joseph’s Church, Glenavy.
‘It is a terrible tragedy,’ he added. ‘‘It is very sad indeed and their parents are distraught as you can imagine.
‘The community are very shocked. The family are good people who keep themselves to themselves.
‘Mikey was a very pleasant fella. I didn’t know him because at that age they are not exactly church goers, but I knew of him and people talked about him.
‘He was a nice fella just living life and their deaths are very sad.’
Mikey died along with Layla Douglas on Saturday when their grey Cupra Formentor collided with a grey Skoda Fabia on the Lurgan Road.
A PSNI spokesman said: “Our officers attended alongside emergency service partners, however the two occupants of the Cupra were pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The driver of the Skoda was transferred to hospital for treatment to his injuries.
“Our enquiries are continuing, and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have digital footage which could assist with our investigation, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 1121 22/11/25.”
A post on Ronnie Thompson Funeral Directors says that he died on November 22 ‘Tragically, aged 22 years’.
He is described as the ‘dearly beloved son of Michael and Theresa’, ‘loved brother of Lilly, Becky, Helen and the late Luke Martin’.
His funeral will be ‘from his home on Thursday 27th November at 11.30am, to St. Joseph’s Church Chapel Road Glenavy, for 12 o’clock Requiem Mass, followed by burial in adjoining cemetery’.
‘Mikey will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his mother, father and sisters’, it adds. ‘Reunited with his brother. Deeply missed by the Brown and Price family circle’.
Underneath the notice scores of tributes have flooded in.
Another message from Tommy Joyce online says: ‘My deepest condolences to Mikey and Layla’s family.
‘This is truly devastating news – two beautiful young life’s taken far too soon, in the lead up to Christmas May God grant them the very best beds in Heaven, and may they watch over all their loved ones’.
‘People, this is a heart-breaking reminder of how precious life is.
‘As we come into Christmas, we’re hearing bad news after bad news, especially within our own community’.
He added: ‘So to all the young Boys and girls heading out over Christmas – please, think of your families before you think about driving.
‘Rest in peace Mikey & Layla’.
Tributes online include:
- ‘Cathryn Leader – RIP, Mickey Brown Are thoughts are with you and your family
- ‘Liam Mclornan – ‘May Mikey's memory be a blessing to you all, with love and sympathy’
- Caron Mc Mahon – ‘RIP, thinking of the family’
- Lynn Adams – ‘Thinking of the family at this difficult time’