A PENSIONER FATALLY assaulted outside his home last week had a “heart of gold”, and was funny “loyal and kind”, his funeral mass heard, Friday.

72-year-old Michael ‘Mikey’ Hayes died after he was found with critical injuries outside his home at St Michael’s Court, Watergate, Co Limerick, on Thursday 10 July.

Shortly before 11am, a coffin carrying Mr Hayes’s remains was shouldered by loved ones into St John’s Cathedral, Limerick City, where his funeral mass was held. He is survived by his four sons, Tom, Michael, Brendan and Joe.

Michael was a former member of the 12th Infantry Battalion Defence Forces stationed at Sarsfield Barracks, and a member of Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) Post 6.

Retired Irish army and United Nations soldiers, dressed in uniform, performed a guard of honour as Mr Hayes’s coffin, draped in the tricolour, was brought inside the cathedral.

In an emotional tribute, one of Michael Hayes’s four sons, told mourners: “Mike brought smiles, he told stories, he made memories, but behind the craic and the spoofs, was a man with a heart of gold.”

“He would help anybody – no hesitation, no questions asked. If you needed him, he was there, that kind of loyalty and kindness is rare, and he gave it so freely.”

Michael Hayes' son said his father would help anybody without questions or hesitation. David Raleigh David Raleigh

“He loved the drink, a laugh and being around people. More than that, he loved his family, his friends and his community, and we loved him deeply and truly.”

“It’s impossible to come to terms with how his life ended, but we will carry his spirit.”

Cruel

Michael Hayes’ son said his father’s sudden death had paralysed his family in grief: “It’s impossible to come to terms with how his life ended, but we will carry his spirit.”

“He was 72 years old when his life was taken from us, far too soon, and in the most cruel and senseless way. None of us will ever understand it, but what we do understand is the impact he made while he was here, and that’s that’s what we’re here to remember.”

Mr Hayes described his late father as “an unforgettable man” who brought fun and happy memories to his family and friends.

“Our Dad was a kind man, a proper character — if you knew him, you’d know he was some man to make up a story, and not just any story, but a full-blown ‘Mikey-spoof’,” said Mr Hayes to laughter from loved ones and friends.

“He could spin a tail from nothing, and he’d have you in stitches before you realised half of it was made up. They would be one of those stories you wouldn’t believe about a neighbour, cousin or some poor stranger that probably never existed at all.”

“But the magic was, you didn’t care, because when Mikey told a story, you listened, and you laughed.”

“That was Mikey’s gift – He didn’t need a stage, a microphone; just a crowd, a bit of attention and maybe a pint, and he was away. He brought joy into every room, just being by being in it.”

Michael Hayes was laid to rest at Mount Saint Oliver Cemetery, Limerick.