Derry teen who died after crash 'totally unselfish', mourners told at funeral

A Derry teenager who sadly died following a single-vehicle collision was a "totally unselfish" young man who "always put other people first", mourners at his funeral heard on Monday.

Noah Karran sadly died following the crash on the Learmount Road in the Park area of Co Derry, near Claudy, on Thursday morning. The collision happened just weeks after he had passed his driving test, mourners heard during the serviec at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown in Derry city.

The 18-year-old, who ran his own phone-repair shop in the city, was described as a young man who "looked up to his brothers and idolised his sisters".

Read more: Tributes to talented Derry teen who died following Claudy crash

Read more: Teenager killed in single vehicle crash in Co Derry

His sister Alix fought through tears to read a moving poem dedicated to her late teen brother before thanking those in the congregation for their support over the last few days.

A keen motorcyclist, his phone, helmet and gloves were placed at the altar as symbols of his life.

There were prayers during the service for the emergency services who rushed to his aid, and for the people of the Claudy and Park areas who had prayed for the 18-year-old following the collision.

Fr Eamonn Graham, in a moving homily, spoke of the young man's intelligence and kindness.

"His nickname was 'wee boat' because of Noah's Ark," he told mourners. "He was a very gentle soul. He loved his McDonalds. He opened his own phone repair shop, which just shows you the intelligence that he had. I'm told of a story from his school, when the teacher went in and they were all watching YouTube. He had hacked into the system and the school. He was told off for it but said he was only doing it to show how bad the security at the school was.

"He looked up to his brothers and idolised his sisters. He loved his motorbike."

Addressing his family directly, Fr Graham said: "I know you had finally persuaded him to give up the motorbike because it was only a matter of time before he had a crash.

"Sadly, he had only passed his test four weeks ago."

He continued: "People have said he wouldn't hurt a fly. He lived for the moment. He and his girlfriend were inseperable."

"He was a young man who always put other people first. He was totally unselfish. He'd have given the last penny to somebody else. If somebody was in need, he'd always be trying to care for them."

Fr Graham added: "We live in a world where people are caught up with 'me' - I need my 'me' time, I need my space, I need a photograph of myself. He wasn't from that. That wasn't the way he thought. He put other people first. He always did. That, really, is the essence of being a Christian and he lived it to the full."

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