Martin Joseph Divilly

My brother was loved by many thats including his Mum and Dad, Sisters, Aunties and Uncles, Cousins and friends... People that knew Martin knew he was a true friend. His cheeky grin when getting up to mischeif and his Bright blue eyes that never failed to attract the girls....

My big brother wanted to grow up and be like our dad, he was an inspiration and a ideal role model for Martin and had years to become as sucessful as he had dreamed to be. Martin also idolized our Mum for her light hearted personality and a friend to talk to, Every one was proud of him and me and my younger sister Anna looked up to him in every thing he done, we believed we were safe when he was here and he always had an answer for any question we asked him.. We were a close family dispite the arguments that every one has but although he has gone we still have good memories that remain in our heart and no one can take them away.

Martin was taking from us by the angels needing his help maybe to look after my grand parents up there Rest In Peace: Nanny Mary Divilly, Grandpa Patrick Divilly, Granny Bridget Shiel and Grandad Sheil. Or maybe my lil cousin Cerys Sheil *R.I.P bubs* or my Uncle Paul Sheil R.I.P.

To look down on us all and look after us.

Martin Donaldson - Divilly died on 1st May 2003 between 4.20 - 4.30pm, he was only 15 years old at the time and I had just turned 14 with my sister being 12. He was still studying at school and had just finished at 3pm, every one left the school gate and we all walked towards home... We all normally wait with our friends that are catching the bus but i didn't today i just went straight home but Martin went along with the normal routine... about 15 minutes later he came in just to get some food and go back out again, Martin loved being with friends and went to his friend house, a street in front of our house.

I was sitting in the kitchen with my friend eating pate on toast, my mum was asleep in the front room from bein at work all morning.. and my sister was at her friends house. There was a knock at the door "Martin has been in a tiny crash, and knocked his head but he is okay!" Said martins friends, sisters mouth! my eyes widened with my mouth dropping... i ran in to tell me mum and she jumped up putting shoes on and we ran straight out the door they had told us where the crash happened which was on a bend on goldhay way which... was about 30 second drive from the house. but we didnt no where exactly and then we see Martin's friend and he said martins okay but he has gone in an ambulance!!
At this time we didnt no what was going on we didnt no what type of crash who was with him and what happened!!! so we asked his friend.. what has actually happened... "my uncle took us out in his new car for a test drive and he lost control and we crashed into a lampost, but there okay!" So as fast as we could me and my mum got my friends dad to give us a lift to the hospital and there we would find Martin.

We arrived at the hospital going into A&E asking about him but they didn't no what we was on about so we had to wait around for a while thinking what could of happened, whether he was okay and has he even been brought to hospital and not ran from the crash seen (being a 15 year old boy u wouldnt no what to think if you had just crashed) no news was given to us so when we went outside and there wasd a police officer sitting in his van near the entrance, we went over and asked him if he new any thing about the crash on goldhay way... he said he didnt but he would find out for us! so we waited on a bench outside A&E and he come over to us after about 20 mins and asked us to come into family room so me and my mum holding hands went in and sat down on a couch... with him sitting on an armchair.. me and my mum looked at each other waiting for the news, the police officer didn't no what to say nor how to say it "I am afriad to say that he didnt make it." the most horrendous words ever!!! we both screamed and jumped up! All i could do was hug mum and cry. the police officer give us a few more minutes and asked if we needed to tell any one, my mum said yes which was my dad. There was a phone in the room but my mum didn't tell him on the phone as he lives in london and had to drive down.. in the mean time i collapsed and went unconcious so dont no what went on from that time and the time me waking up on the bed! about 5 mins after we went home.

Back at home every one had heard the news, apart from my lil sister then she pulled up in the car oblivious to what had happened but wen she see our faces and people crying.. she gathered and just went into tears.

About an hour later we had to go back to the hospital and wait for my dad, he arrived!!! i couldnt even look at him he ran in shouting where is he and all every one could do was look away. My dad is the back bone in our family and then he just fell to pieces just walked in to a room and and let it all out what could he say his oldest child and only son had died later on we all went to view the body and i from the time i went in there to the time i left i couldnt let go of his body!! My Big Brother, who i looked up to to look after me, to guide me had been taken away! had been taken away because the driver of the car was DRUNK!!!! and on a 30mph lane was going 70mph being 3 and a half times over the limit! and because of his foolishness we had lost our brother, and my parents son!

A week and a half later we had a funeral for him, the church was packed with friends and family.. no one wore n e black though because we wanted to celebrate Martins life for wat he was like a happy and bubbly person he was. the funeral went really well... as upsettin as it was we got through it.

Couple of days later we flew him over to ireland to have him burried there (thats where our family is from) and with him beingso young didn't want his grave alone so he got burried beside my nan who died 15th May 2002 and grandad died 1st May 1978, we had another funeral in Ireland for him aswell for the other part of the Family and friends.

3 Years on and the pain remains the same... the drunken driver who took away martins life got 2 years in prison and a 5 year driving ban, but no matter how long he got that wouldnt bring my Brother back..

Martin Donaldson - Divilly... 1987 - 2003 xxxXxxx

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.