Declan Laverty’s family, friends will gather in Cairns today for ‘confronting’ funeral

An aspiring rapper, Richmond fan and loving son and brother will be laid to rest this afternoon, in a service celebrating the young life tragically taken too soon.

The friends and family of Declan Laverty will gather today to celebrate the 20-year-old’s life, reflecting on the passion he brought to everything he did.

Father Damian Crook arrived in Cairns earlier this week to attend his son’s funeral at the Heritage Brady Funeral Directors from 1.30pm.

Mr Crook said he anticipated a crowd dressed in black and yellow in honour of Declan’s favourite AFL team, the Richmond Tigers.

Thousands of demonstrators rallied at Parliament House against violent crime in the wake of the alleged murder of Declan Laverty last weekend. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“They’re wearing it to say, ‘hey Declan, we’re thinking of you’,” he said.

Though he expected the day to be confronting, Mr Crook said he wanted those who loved his son to come together and share memories, play his music and celebrate “what he liked”.

“Everyone that can be there, that wants to be there to support myself (and his family), will be there,” he said.

Damian Crook will remember his son, Declan Laverty, for his old soul and true friendship.

Mr Crook said he was not sure how big the crowd in Cairns would be but hoped to organise a Darwin memorial some time in the coming weeks, expecting a “massive” turn-out after thousands gathered for the NT crime rally earlier this month.

As well as offering the chance to celebrate his son’s life, Mr Crook said it would give the Darwin community a chance to come together and connect.

Damian Crook was among thousands of demonstrators at Parliament House in a rally against violent crime in the wake of the alleged murder of his son, Declan Laverty. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We need to get Darwin back and running, get some love back into Darwin,” he said.

“We need to be supportive of each other.

“The best way to do it is just to say, ‘hi’, to the person next to you.”