“WE cannot remotely call our town civilised when a young person’s life is taken away in such a brutal, mindless and senseless way.”

Blackburn charity THOMAS’s John Michael Hanvey spoke candidly at the funeral of 22-year-old Ryan Livesey today.

He told around 100 mourners at St Peter’s Church, Mill Hill, that the sign of a civilised society was ‘respect for all life’ and said current ‘ugly and empty’ values made a ‘mockery’ of the idea of a ‘Big Society’.

He said: “It makes all our talk about a ‘Big Society’ meaningless.

“Until we face up to how some people value life so cheaply, we will never grow into a civilised society.

“For Ryan to be so brutally taken, stolen, points to a sickness and disease at the very core of our society.”

Mr Hanvey, who supported Ryan through the Blackburn charity, added: “Ryan will be remembered fondly for his quiet presence and smile.

“He didn’t give away too much too quickly.”

The vicar Frank Webster said: “He has been taken quickly from the wickedness around him.”

Ryan, who had learning difficulties, was attacked in town centre on Friday, April 15, and died from his injuries almost a week later.

His mum Christine, dad Trevor, sister Lyndsey, brother Jordan, uncles Mark and Wayne and grandmothers Joan and Caroline were in attendance as were other family and friends including lifelong Sarah Cookson, 21, from Darwen.

She paid a tearful tribute to Ryan, saying: “He was like a big brother to me. No-one else can replace him. It hurts inside to say goodbye. I’ll never forget him.”

• A 24-year-old man is in custody charged with Ryan’s murder.