Mourning as "loved and cherished" boys found dead in car are laid to rest

Published on Thursday 22 May 2008 15:27

TWO young brothers found murdered in a car were "loved and cherished" boys who would never be forgotten, mourners at their funeral heard today.

Family and friends gathered in the Springburn area of Glasgow to celebrate the lives of Paul Ross, six, and two-year-old Jay.

During the half-hour service, many wept as they remembered the "Spiderman-daft" school pupil and his little brother, who liked to be known as "Jay Jay".

Afterwards, members of the local community lined the street and stood with their heads bowed as the wreath-adorned hearse carrying the boys' single white coffin made the journey to nearby Riddrie Cemetery.

The bodies of the brothers, who lived in the Royston area of the city, were discovered in a parked car at a beauty spot north of Glasgow earlier this month.

A man, believed to be their father, was also found at the murder scene in Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire.

Named by neighbours as Ashok Kalyanjee, he remains under police guard in hospital, where he is in a serious condition with severe burns.

He is understood to be estranged from the boys' mother, Giselle Ross.

Alastair Douglas, who led today's humanist service, told around 80 mourners that Paul had been a "serious wee man".

He added that the youngster was a "sensitive" child who had experienced some teething problems when he first started at Royston Primary School, but had been beginning to settle in.

Paul was described as a "Spiderman-daft" child who loved nothing more than putting on his costume and pretending to be his favourite superhero, Mr Douglas said.

Mourners heard that Jay was a completely different boy, who was confident and had loved Bob the Builder.

Mr Douglas added that when people addressed him as "Jay", the toddler would point at himself and say "No – Jay Jay".

Mourners were told that, after the recent death of the boys' grandmother, Jay would sing the nursery rhyme Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to the sky.

Describing the brothers, he added: "No-one could be more loved or cherished."

Mourners heard that the boys came from a large and supportive family.

Mr Douglas said Ms Ross had been a "wonderful" mother, who "had lost everything".

"She was a credit to them and they were a credit to her," he said.

"Let that never be forgotten."

Halfway through the service, the Barry Manilow song Can't Smile Without You was played.

At the end of the service, wreaths, including one of Spiderman, and a double wreath with the initials "P" and "J" were placed inside the hearse with the boys' coffin.

Dozens of other floral bouquets and wreaths were attached to its roof.