BWS worker Declan Laverty’s mother delivers wrenching eulogy

Family and friends have gathered for the funeral of a young man who was reportedly stabbed a bottle of alcohol while working at BWS.

Declan Laverty, 20, was about to finish his shift at BWS at The Airport Tavern in Jingili, Darwin, just before 9pm on March 19 when he was reportedly stabbed to death by an irate customer.

Paramedics and bystanders tried to save his life, but his injuries were too severe and the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police claim that the 19-year-old responsible fled in a vehicle. He was arrested Monday and charged with murder and aggravated robbery.

Laverty was buried Friday morning in Gordonvale, 14 miles south of Cairns.

Loved ones were urged to wear black and yellow to represent his favorite football team, the Richmond Tigers.

His heartbroken mother, Samara Laverty, said her “heart was ripped out” the moment she found out her son was dead.

His coffin was covered in the yellow and black of his favorite football team, the Richmond Tigers

During the service, the budding musician was remembered as the “most loved and cherished son of Samara and Damien,” and “soul mate” to his partner Abbie.

His coffin was decorated with sports trophies, a baseball cap and Tigers merchandise.

His mother Samara Laverty spoke of the love she shared with her son, who texted her several times a day to tell her “I love you.”

“From the moment I found out I was pregnant with you, you had my heart and soul,” she said.

“You clung to me constantly, no one could take you from me or I from you…. you were my buddy, you will always be my buddy.”

Mrs Laverty revealed her heartbreak the moment she knew her son had passed away.

“The day you died, I got three ‘I love you, Mom’ texts.”

“Last text I’ll ever get from you, unless you start playing with my electronics. I knew it when I saw that last text, I knew it.

‘Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 9:19 p.m. my life came to a standstill.

Friends and family of stabbing victim Declan Laverty are pictured dressed in black and yellow. His sister and mother are pictured in matching AFL Guernseys

Declan Laverty’s sisters are pictured next to his coffin on Friday morning

‘My heart was ripped out, [you were] my soul, my firstborn child, the person who made me a mother.’

His father, Damian Laverty, gave insight into their close bond, with the couple living together as “son and housewife” before his death.

“Things I’m going to miss — he’d just open the door, walk in and you’d just sit on the couch and he’d just have to [nod],’ he said.

“That’s all he needed to do.”

Mr Laverty’s grandfather, Lance, was too emotional to speak at the funeral, but had a message read by the celebrant.

The young man’s sisters said they “missed everything about him,” with one bursting into tears as they shared memories with their brother.

His last act was to text his mom, “I love you mom, I got stabbed.”

“I always thought you’d say something remarkably sassy and funny here at my funeral,” his sister Taylor said of her little brother.

Friends and relatives broke down as they paid tribute to him at Friday’s funeral

“You always wanted to make a joke and he always made me laugh and smile.”

His sister Bridget shared how Mr. Laverty was “always there” for her when she needed it.

“I still remember the day I got hit at school and you and Mom came running to the school and you were ready to hit the person who hit me because that’s the kind of person you were,” she said.

The ‘brazen’ and talented AFL player was remembered for the love he showed his friends and family.

“He did things his way, there were no shades of gray, you knew where you stood,” said family friend Jane.

“You knew where you stood with him, if he loved you, he loved you with every atom of his soul and body.

“If it didn’t work, he knew it too.”

His best friend Demi remembered “Crooksy” as a man who had “all the passion in the world to do better for himself.”

Declan Laverty’s mother is pictured, left, next to her daughter at her son’s funeral on Friday

“He was such an ambitious man full of love and care and was just someone you could laugh with no matter what kind of day you had,” he said in a letter.

Mr Laverty’s father called radio station Mix 104.9 in the wake of his son’s death to reveal the extent of the violence he was facing.

“A screwdriver was pulled on him just a few weeks ago. One of the other staff members was physically assaulted and was unable to return to work,” he told the radio station.

“They get attacked on that one quite often, as far as I know.

He was looking for another job. He just couldn’t take it anymore.

“It gets very, very out there for everyone. Whether it’s my son or someone else, something has to be done.’