Mikey Brown: Tragic 'blue eyed boy' laid to rest short distance from site of horror crash where he and Layla Douglas died

Parish Priest in Glenavy, the Very Reverend Fr Colm McBride, who officiated at the noon service in St Joseph’s Church, Glenavy, added that ‘no-one expected to be here today doing what we're about to do, commend this young man to God's love and mercy and lay his remains to rest in our graveyard when he was so full of life and fun and joy and great ambitions and plans’.

Mikey, 22, died along with Layla Douglas, 21, on Saturday November 22 when their grey Cupra Formentor collided with a grey Skoda Fabia on the Lurgan Road in Glenavy

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 death notice describes him as the ‘dearly beloved son of Michael and Theresa’, ‘loved brother of Lilly, Becky, Helen and the late Luke Martin’.

The senior cleric added that the tragedy has left “many in our community deeply shocked and deeply saddened at the sudden arbitrary nature of it all’ and may feel ‘we have no words for you Theresa and Michael and the girls, which would comfort you at this time’.

Addressing mourners Father McBride said “we are also mindful of Michael's friend, Leila and her family who are sharing the same turmoil today, once again as the mystery of life and death overwhelms, and this rupture of your family is heartbreaking”.

"Mikey's tragic death, once again, challenges us,” added the cleric.

"We take so much for granted. We make our plans and presume too much but every day is a precious gift, every journey an achievement”.

He added: “As we celebrate the ceremony for Mikey, we trust the mystery of his life and death to our Heavenly Father, even though this tragedy may test our faith in God's providential care.

"Who else can we turn to? Who else could offer hope or meaning in these appalling circumstances?

"At the age of 22 we could rightly imagine that, like any young man, Mikey had plans for his life, ambitions of what he might do or could achieve, friendships and relationships were all ahead.

“At His birth, Mikey truly was an answer to Teresa's prayers, ever after he was her blue eyed golden boy”.

Rev McBride added that “Mikey was a very mannerly young man who was good at making friends and very loyal and supportive of them".

The cleric added that Mikey “didn't care much for reading, but he did read his Bible at times on his own, and had a number of phrases which he committed to memory".

Mikey Brown was then laid to rest in St Joseph’s cemetery, Glenavy

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