The funeral took place this afternoon of an 11-year-old boy who died following what is believed to have been a mauling by the family’s Alsatian dog.
Ryan Busa, from Newtonabbey, County Antrim, was found ‘covered in blood’ from cuts at his home around noon on October 14.
Children from his primary school in Glengormley stood with parents, relatives, teachers and neighbours outside the family home in Queens Avenue today where the tragedy occurred.
Mourners lined the street as his small white coffin was taken to Carnmoney Cemetery.
The funeral took place this afternoon of an 11-year-old boy who died following what is believed to have been a mauling by the family’s Alsatian dog
Ryan Busa, from Newtonabbey, County Antrim, was found ‘covered in blood’ from cuts at his home around noon on October 14
Children from his primary school in Glengormley stood with parents, relatives, teachers and neighbours outside the family home in Queens Avenue today where the tragedy occurred
Mourners lined the street as Ryan Busa’s (pictured) small white coffin was taken to Carnmoney Cemetery this afternoon
Mourners were out in droves today to pay their respects to the ‘adorable’ little boy
Ryan had been rushed to hospital after the incident where he died shortly after.
A resident who lives near the scene said she saw the youngster ‘covered in blood’ as he was carried out of his house on a stretcher and treated by paramedics.
His school paid tribute to the ‘adorable’ pupil earlier this week and said ‘a little light has gone out’.
Forensics attend the scene at Queen’s Avenue in Newtownabbey after Ryan was killed
Flowers left at the scene by mourners as forensics attend Queen’s Avenue in Newtownabbey
Locals have described the area as a ‘generally quiet’ estate. Above, police at the scene earlier this week
A statement from his school, given to The Sun Online, read: ‘The Principal, Staff, Board of Governors & Children of Ashgrove Primary School are greatly saddened by the tragic loss of one of our adorable P7 pupils.
‘A little light has gone out; he will be greatly missed.’
Police are still in the area of Glengormley where the incident happened, which locals have described as a ‘generally quiet’ estate.
The BBC has reported that the ‘police line of inquiry is that the family’s German Shepherd may have killed the 11-year-old boy around midday’.
A 38-year-old man who is believed to be the boy’s father, Polish-born Marek Busa, is assisting with police inquiries, according to The Sun.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.
Neighbours in the area of County Antrim where the ‘shocking’ incident took place said they saw the youngster ‘covered in blood’ as he was taken out of his home on a stretcher
Noreen McCelland, a Socialist Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor in the area has been at the scene for several hours today.
She told Belfast Live: ‘This is tragic news. I am sure the whole community is grieving and the family, I’m sure, are distraught.
‘There are just no words. The local community will be trying to take in this dreadful news.’
She claims distraught neighbours had watched as the child was taken out of the house by paramedics on a stretcher.
‘They said there was a lot of blood. It is just horrible, a terrible tragedy. How do you deal with something like that.
‘Everyone is really upset. We don’t know yet what has happened.’
Forensic teams were seen entering the family home earlier this week as they investigate the circumstances of the boy’s death.
People have taken to social media to express their shock and sadness.
One Twitter user called Leah wrote: ‘Utterly heartbreaking news from Glengormley this evening.’
Democratic Union Party Senior Parliamentary Assistant Phillip Brett wrote: ‘Huge shock and sadness across Glengormley today following this tragic news. Police investigation underway.’
A ‘Love Antrim’ account wrote: ‘Sad news that young boy has died in Glengormley. PSNI arrested a man in connection with his death. Thoughts and go out to family & friends.’
Newtownabbey’s Glengormley Integrated Primary School posted: ‘Oh my goodness. How tragically sad. Feeling already numb and shocked without even knowing any more.’
Lisa Mason wrote on Facebook: ‘I know the whole community will be shocked and grieving! Queens Park really had become an estate that families felt safe in and has been a close knit community
Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends closest to the young boy’
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: ‘Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of an 11 year old boy at a house in the Queens Avenue area of Newtownabbey on Sunday, October 15.
‘There are no further details at present.’
Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: ‘Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of an 11 year old boy at a house in the Queens Avenue area of Newtownabbey on Sunday, October 15. Above, forensics workers at the scene earlier this week