Funeral of young Slane man to take place today
The funeral details of the 21-year-old man from Slane who had been missing for over 10 days will take place today in the village.
The body of James Smyth Collins was recovered from the River Boyne on Monday evening, 31st July.
Multi-agency searches had been ongoing for over a week for the Slane man who went missing in the early hours of Saturday 22nd July.
The discovery was made by local kayakers who alerted emergency services.
The body was recovered in a joint effort between Boyne Fisherman’s Rescue and Recovery and Meath River Rescue crews.
The death has occurred of James Smyth Collins
St. Patrick's Terrace, Slane, Meath
The funeral notice read: Predeceased by his brother Matthew, grandad John and aunt Kathleen. James will be very sadly missed by his parents Damien and Gráinne, his grandparents Peter, Myra and May, aunts Sarah and Sandra, uncles Sean, Conor, Brendan, Brian and Declan cousins, relatives and a large circle of friends.
May James Rest in Peace
Reposing at his parent's residence (St Patrick's Terrace, Slane) on Thursday from 2pm to 8pm.
House Private at all other times please.
Arriving at St. Patrick’s Church, Slane on Friday for Funeral mass at 12 noon.
which can be viewed on https://www.slaneparish.ie/livestream
Burial afterwards in St Erc’s Cemetery, Slane.
Local Cllr Wayne Harding paid tribute to the community of Slane who rallied around the family of the young man in recent days.
"As a member of Meath Co Council I want to extend my sincere sympathy to the Collins and Smyth families on the loss of their beloved James.
“Over the last week I witnessed an extraordinary dignity and strength displayed by family members as they went through a most harrowing ordeal.
"The community response was an example of all that is great about humanity. The commitment of the Meath and Boyne river rescue crews needs to be witnessed at first hand to fully appreciate the importance of the roll they play in society when families are at their most vulnerable.
"An Garda Siochana and Meath Civil Defence were fantastic in their response and every business in the community did what they could do to provide food and drinks both hot and cold to everyone helping in the search. But the real heroes are the volunteers, family and friends from Slane and all the surrounding areas who used all their different skills and attributes to assist in whatever way they could to bring James back to Damien and Grainne and all his loving family.
“In a world that can deliver such horrendous sadness and grief the last ten days were also an example of all that is great in the human condition. May God help the Collins and Smyth families to sustain their extraordinary level of dignity and strength in the days, weeks and months ahead. May James rest in peace. Ar dheis go raibh a anaim delis.”