A postmortem is due to be carried out today on a six-year-old boy who died yesterday morning during class at a school in Armagh city.
Jamie McGee collapsed at his desk at St Patrick's primary school just minutes after class began at 9am. Teachers at the Loughgall Road school gave first aid before paramedics arrived to take him to Craigavon Area Hospital, where he later died.
Fr Tommy McNulty was with Jill and Gerald McGee when their son died. "It was a very sad sight for those parents. There were tears as the little fellow was just lying there with his family gathered around him."
Jamie, a primary two pupil, was a keen Liverpool football supporter. The McGee family also have a younger son called Ben.
A neighbour, Margaret Connolly, said: "Jamie was an angel. He was a beautiful wee boy, just a lovely, lovely wee boy."
Sinn Féin deputy mayor Noel Sheridan said: "The child's family are well known and respected throughout the community and the news of this tragic death has shocked the entire community.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving parents at this trying time. We are also mindful of the distress and shock that the staff and pupils at the primary school are no doubt going through."
The school had reopened after the Christmas holidays. Principal Kevin Devlin said teachers had done their best to help Jamie, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult period."
SDLP Armagh Cllr Mealla Bratton also expressed her shock and sadness at the death of the schoolboy. "For a family to lose a child so young like this is absolutely devastating."
Police are investigating the death as a matter of routine.