A THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY who died in a tragic lift accident in Galway this week has been laid to rest, following prayer services this afternoon.

Solomon Soremekun was killed in the accident at the Hynes Building on St. Augustine St in the city on Monday. The Health and Safety Authority is investigating how the tragedy occurred.

The toddler was laid to rest in Bohermore Cemetery at 1pm this afternoon, after a prayer service was held at the mortuary at Galway University Hospital.

Around 200 members of the Nigerian and wider African community attended the services, alongside locals, a representative of the Nigerian embassy here and Mayor of Galway Pádraig Conneely.

In keeping with Nigerian tradition, neither Solomon’s mother Omolara Alibi nor his father Ade Soremekun attended the burial. His mother was due to to attend the mortuary service, but was too distraught to do so.

Councillor Conneely was asked by the family to speak at the graveside. He asked that locals remember the toddler’s resting place, and requested that those passing in years to come spare a moment to visit his grave and say a prayer.

Lit candles which had been distributed amongst the mourners as the graveside service got under way were placed at Solomon’s graveside as the crowd dispersed.

Omolara Alibi has called for an investigation into the incident to be made public, to ensure that such a tragedy can never happen again.

Read: Three-year-old boy dies after becoming stuck in a lift shaft in Galway