Devoted father Billy Nicholl has been laid to rest beside his beloved daughter Ellie, whose memory he cherished every day.

Billy, who passed away suddenly at the age of 57, dedicated his life to supporting others, especially grieving families, through charity work inspired by Ellie, who died at the age of eight in 2016.

Now, in a poignant reunion, he is buried alongside his darling daughter, continuing the bond that defined his life.

The Fermanagh man was highly regarded in the county and beyond for his efforts alongside his wife, Ciara, in helping bereaved families.

Together, they co-founded Ellie’s Retreat, a charity that offers respite breaks for families who have suffered the loss of a child.

They named the retreat in honour of their daughter, Ellie, who died when she was eight years old, following a lifelong battle with H-ABC Syndrome.

Mr. Nicholl died unexpectedly last Wednesday, following a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

He has been remembered as a helper to all, and Ciara described how, at the wake, she was told of the many ways he had helped people over the years.

She said: “The number of people that told me stories of what Billy had done to help them, I never knew. I never, ever knew the things he was doing behind the scenes to help people.

“He was just a rock at the end of the day. He was our rock.”

She added: “He was so devoted to us and did absolutely everything for us.”

Paying tribute to her husband, she said: “So many people have said we were like Velcro; you didn’t see one without the other, and we were. Everything from shopping, to going for spins, visiting the grave, or going for walks.”

She added: “That’s the hardest thing, as we were always together.”

Mr. Nicholl, a native of Belfast, moved to Fermanagh when his work with the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) took him to the county.

It was in Belcoo where he met Ciara, who would later become his wife, at the annual Belcoo Sports and Festival.

Mrs. Nicholl explained: “The two of us bumped into each other and were chatting on the street, so that’s where it all started.

“We married on August 17, 2001, after trying to get a date as close as possible to 15th August.”

They later welcomed two children, Arran (22), and Ellie, who was born in 2007 and died in 2016 at the age of eight.

Following Ellie’s death, the couple worked to open a respite retreat for families who have suffered the loss of a child.

Explaining the drive behind the charity, Mrs. Nicholl said: “Our first year was 2017. We got it opened around Ellie’s anniversary. We put our heads down with friends and fundraising, and we had it sorted and opened within a year. We couldn't have done it without the community helping us out and their support.”

Ellie’s Retreat kept Mr. Nicholl busy following his retirement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), but he later got a job as a porter at the South West Acute Hospital.

Mrs. Nicholl said: “He took up a job just at the start of Covid in the hospital as a porter. He absolutely loved it, loved going to work, and just enjoyed the craic and the chat and everything that came with it.”

Outside of work and the retreat, Mr. Nicholl enjoyed walking and travelling with his wife in their campervan.

She said: “He loved walking; he and I walked up to Ellie every day. He persuaded me, and we eventually bought a campervan. We loved spending time together, just the two of us.

“We loved every minute of it, the two of us. We have a great group of friends and family too.”

Other interests included rugby, which he had been involved in all his life.

Thanking those who have rallied around her in recent days, she said: “The support since last Wednesday – the support we have had from people – I have been speechless. There are no words for it.”

Mr. Billy Nicholl’s funeral took place on Saturday morning at St. Joseph’s Church, Cradien. The funeral was conducted by Fr. Eddie Conway. Funeral arrangements were by Paschal Conway, James Conway Funeral Directors, Belcoo.

He is survived by his wife, Ciara, and son, Arran, as well as a wide circle of family and friends. Mr. Nicholl was predeceased by his daughter, Ellie; his parents, Billy and Margaret; and his siblings, Robert and Heather.

Following the funeral, he was laid to rest in Cross Cemetery, Enniskillen, alongside his daughter, Ellie.