Olivia Kelleher
A grieving father whose son died in London after sustaining sharp force injuries told mourners at his requiem Mass in Waterford that he was truly blessed to have had “four years and three months” with his child.
Kobi Macharia Dooley (four) died in Hackney, London on December 20th. His mother, Keziah Macharia (41), has been charged with his murder.
On the evening of December 20th, Kobi's father, Ben Dooley, contacted police in London due to concerns about the welfare of his son.
A court in London previously heard that within minutes of the emergency call, officers forced their way into Ms Macharia's Hackney home. They found Kobi lying in his cot having sustained stab injuries.
He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital where he died shortly after midnight on December 21st.
The child's remains were brought to Tramore, Co Waterford, the homeplace of Mr Dooley and his family, for burial.
Speaking at the Holy Cross Church in Tramore on Friday, Mr Dooly said he and young Kobi adored each other.
"My little boy is beautiful. I’m actually blessed to have had Kobi in my life for four years and three months. I’ll always cherish that.
"Kobi is the strongest little boy I have ever known, and we are all going to be strong with this. He is looking down on us right now."
Blanket of love
Mr Dooley added: "I loved him so much, I adored him and he adored me. We’ll pull through today. We will push through the rest."
He said he always told Kobi he would bring him back to his native Tramore, adding that the local people "have absolutely wrapped a blanket of love around my little boy, and I really appreciate that".
In the church, a framed picture of a smiling Kobi was placed at the altar, and flowers featured Kobi’s favourite Marvel character, Spider-Man.
Fr Richard O’Halloran said they were gathered in the church for one of the most difficult occasions the parish has ever had to face.
"Kobi comes among us today on his first visit to this, his paternal home of Tramore, and to this Church of the Holy Cross.
"It is not a homecoming wanted or expected, but a homecoming nonetheless," Fr O’Halloran said.
"With countless love, we say he will be forever in the hearts and the minds of his family who loved him the most, but we know deep down that the time is never right nor the heart ready to say goodbye."
Fr O’Halloran said Kobi would forever be loved by his father, his grandparents, Wilf and Anne, and his extended family, including his aunts and uncles, Liz, Zeta, Cathy, Shane, Debbie, Ger and John.
"To you, his family and all Kobi’s little friends in London, we say how sorry we are on your indescribable loss."
He continued: "Kobi was a beautiful, smiling, dancing ray of light in your lives, and he will be missed beyond words. Joining with you, we seek together to make sense of the senseless, trying to comprehend the unthinkable.
"As a community we appreciate the various ways the Dooly family have been good to so many people and many causes in Tramore, and now it is our turn to be good to them.
"We will support the family best by never forgetting the name Kobi, and remembering the handsome, smiling face behind the name, but also by being kind to each other as Kobi always was."
The Dooly family are well-known in the Tramore community, owning fish & chip shops and an amusement arcade in the seaside town.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Kobi's Irish relatives travelled to London to offer support to Ben, who has lived in the UK for many years.
