Thousands of mourners have turned out to pay their respects to the nephew of reality television star Paddy Doherty, who was killed in a car crash.
Tom ‘Tomboy’ Doherty, 17, died after the collision in South Nutfield, Surrey, earlier this month just days after passing his driving test.
Speaking at the service, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Celebrity Big Brother star Paddy said: ‘My heart is broken. He was my nephew and his mum and father’s only child. The look on them, they are absolutely devastated.
Pall-bearers wore Manchester United shirts in tribute to Tom’s favourite team, with the teenager described as a keen footballer.
Hundreds of mourners have turned out to pay their respects to Tom ‘Tomboy’ Doherty, 17, who was killed in a car crash earlier this month
Tomboy was described as a popular member of the traveller community and mourners wore Manchester United shirts, pictured, in tribute to him
The teenager, pictured, was tipped as a potential international boxing star and described as ‘charismatic’ and ‘a great boy’
He had also been tipped for international stardom in the boxing ring after being picked for the Frank Bruno Boxing Academy and winning Amateur Boxing Association competitions.
Speaking at the service, Paddy said: ‘My heart is broken. He was my nephew and his mum and father’s only child. The look on them, they are absolutely devastated.
‘He was only 17 but he acted was like 30. He never drank [alcohol] or did drugs. I want to say thanks to Paul, the funeral director, for all that he’s done for us too.’
The mass service, inside the Catholic Church of English Martyrs, has begun with the song ‘Amazing Grace’ being played while mourners wore red shirts reading ‘RIP Tomboy’.
Paul Brown, the funeral director, told mourners: ‘The casket is to be carried from the church by Tomboys uncles and cousins.’
Speaking ahead of the funeral Patrick Doherty, Tom’s father, said: ‘I’m feeling very sad and very emotional, I just thank everyone for coming and being here and giving him a good send off.
‘I don’t know what else to say. He was my boy.’
Hundreds packed out the service at the Catholic Church of English Martyrs, pictured, in Surrey
Tom is the nephew of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, pictured, who said he was ‘feeling very sad and emotional’ after his nephew’s death
Tom lived in Outwood, Surrey, and was a much-loved member of the traveller community, according to his grandfather Thomas Doherty, 57.
He was driving a white Citroen Berlingo when it crashed at around 7.50pm October 9, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a moving tribute to his grandson, Thomas Doherty described him as ‘a living soul, a legend, a great boy’, and ‘a brilliant amateur boxer’ and sportsman.
He added Tom ‘was an example to his peers, keeping them out of trouble’, and ‘was loved by everybody he met.’
An inquest has been opened and adjourned while inquiries into the death continue.