Darwin alleged murder victim Declan Laverty farewelled at funeral in Cairns
Declan Laverty, 20, who was allegedly fatally stabbed while working in a Darwin bottleshop, was farewelled by family and friends at his funeral today. Read the heartbreaking tributes.
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Brownlow medallist and Richmond AFL star Trent Cotchin shared a heartfelt tribute for Darwin bottleshop worker Declan Laverty at his funeral in Cairns on Friday.
“Lots of love from the Tigers family,” Mr Cotchin said in a video message played during the service.
“I know today will be a really challenging time ... we’re thinking of you,” he said.
About 100 family and friends attended the service while about 2500 people tuned in to the funeral livestream to farewell the young life taken too soon.
Declan’s father Damian Crook remembered his son as his “best mate”.
“We lived together as housemate and housewife,” Mr Crook joked.
“As you do, Declan and I had plans; he was going to get his motorcycle licence and one day we were going to travel Route 66.”
Declan’s mother, Samara Laverty, also spoke.
“From the moment I found out I was pregnant with you, you had my heart and soul,” she said.
Ms Laverty remembered how open Declan was with his feelings, saying she received three texts from her son telling her he loved her the day he died.
Tragically, the last one was also to tell her he had been stabbed.
“My heart stopped, my soul was ripped out,” Ms Laverty said.
She said she would fight for ‘Declan’s Law’, calling for tougher penalties for violent crime.
Declan’s sisters Taylah and Bridget stood side-by-side as they fondly remembered “the best brother” they could ask for.
“I’m going to miss watching footy games with you, and I’m going to miss your smile, your laugh, your fat forehead – don’t worry because we have the same forehead,” Bridget said.
“Everything you touched you were good at.”
They promised their kids would always know about ‘Uncle Deccy’.
Family and friends dressed in yellow and black to farewell the 20-year-old, a nod to the footy-fanatic’s favourite Richmond Tigers colours.
Declan was an aspiring rapper and the funeral began with Eminem’s classic rap anthem, ‘Lose Yourself’.
Celebrant Leisel Pisani said the circumstances of the death made it particularly difficult.
“There’s no doubt that it’s really, really tough.”
“This news has devastated so many people, and even people who didn’t know Declan or his family personally are grieving at this moment also,” she said.
Family friend, Jane, shared a eulogy recalling the “moment Declan started daycare, to the day he finished school, he was a handful”.
“If he loved you, he loved you with every single atom of his soul and body, if he didn’t, then you knew that too,” she said.
Jane said while Declan struggled to find a school that was the right fit, he excelled as an up-and-coming AFL player, often recruited to play in the higher grades.
She said Declan also excelled in computer studies and loved video games.
More recently he found a passion for writing rap music and had big dreams of success.
Lance Laverty, Declan’s grandfather, asked Mrs Pisani to read a statement on his behalf, as he stood beside her choking back tears.
He remembered Declan’s love of camping, love for his sister, and cheekiness.
Mr Laverty also hailed his grandson’s amazing footy skills, and fondly recalled their first beer together.
In a tragic detail, Declan had told his grandfather he was enjoying his job at the BWS but felt a bit daunted doing all this ‘adulting’.
A message from Declan’s ‘soulmate’ Abbie was then read by Declan’s sister.
“You knew how to make people laugh, you were the funniest person I knew … you were honest and brave, which is a blessing and a curse,” it read.
“I promise not a day will go by where I won’t think of you.”
After the service, ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ by Kansas played over a moving slideshow of Declan with friends, family, and on the footy field.
Several people left messages of support and condolences on the livestream feed.
“Words cannot describe your loss. We are all standing beside you all around the country.
As many of us can’t be there at this time, we are there in spirit and our prayers,” Richard Talbot wrote on behalf of the BWS team in Medowie, NSW.
Matthew Coffey wrote “heartfelt condolences” to the family and told Declan to “fly high”.
Declan, who previously lived at Bentley Park in Cairns, was stabbed to death while working at a Darwin bottleshop after allegedly refusing service to a customer on Sunday, March 19.
Declan’s death has prompted a review of NT police powers and bail laws and more than 2000 people marched on the Northern Territory’s Parliament House on Saturday rallying against violent crime.
Declan leaves behind his parents Samara Laverty and Damian Crook as well as his four siblings, Bridget, Josh, Taylah and Ben.
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Originally published as Darwin alleged murder victim Declan Laverty farewelled at funeral in Cairns
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