Hundreds attend funeral of Brinsworth hit and run victim Ryan Durkin (15)

Brinsworth Academy pupil Ryan Durkin (below), whose body was carried on its final journey on Saturday in a red-and-white coffin featuring the crest of his beloved Sheffield United, died in hospital on April 27 — eight days after he was hit by a stolen silver BMW on Brinsworth Lane.

Saturday’s service included Annie’s Song by John Denver, Louis Tomlinson’s song The Two of Us, a tribute to the singer’s late mother, and poems written by celebrant Patricia Revell. It concluded with The Greasy Chip Butty Song, the Sheffield United fan anthem.

Speaking the day before the funeral, Ryan’s mum Diane Durkin said there was “a piece missing” after the death of the youngest of her four sons.

Friends, teammates and players from rival clubs raised more than £2,500 with a tournament in tribute to Ryan, while an online appeal page at 

has brought in £6,200 for his family.

Ryan’s family asked for donations to be made to The Sick Children’s Trust at Sheffield Children’s Hospice.

Mitchell Hughes (24), of Lapwater Road, Wingfield, will appear at Sheffield Crown Court this afternoon (Monday) charged with causing a serious injury through dangerous driving and failing to stop after a road traffic collision in connection with the hit-and-run incident on Brinsworth Lane at 11pm on April 19.

Hughes has also been charged with aggravated burglary, possession of an offensive weapon and section 18 wounding, alleged to have taken place on Friday, April 12, when the BMW was stolen from a house in Penistone.

No pleas have yet been entered to the charges and Hughes has been remanded in custody.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the collsion and anyone with information to call them on 101 quoting incident number 1099 of April 19 or to pass information to Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.