TIDAL WAVE OF TEARS
Tidal wave of tears
Terrible grief as 16 are buried
No words can be spoken to ease their heartbreak
By Staff Reporters
FAMILIES broken with grief attended the funerals of their loved ones today as the human cost of the Omagh bomb was counted with another 16 coffins.
Minsters searched to find words of comfort for the bereaved and the thousands of mourners who turned out to support them.
Most of the young people killed in the blast were buried today - a toddler, three boys and five teenagers.
The funeral was also held of grandmother Mary Grimes - a mother of 12 - whose daughter and grand-daughter were buried yesterday.
The first funeral of the day was that of 20-month-old Breda Devine who had survived premature birth to become a lively toddler.
Her mother Tracey remains critically ill in hospital, together with her uncle Gary McGillion and his fiancee Donna Marie Keyes.
They had been in Omagh to buy shoes for Breda who was to be a flower girl at Gary and Donna's wedding next week.
Today parish priest Fr George Doherty struggled for the words to bring comfort to Breda's heart-broken father Paul who has spent the past few days shuttling between his wife's bedside and his three other children Aaron (6) Niamh (3)and Shay (2).
At the same time a joint funeral service was being held in Buncrana for James Barker (12), Sean McLaughlin (12) and Oran Doherty (8).
Later today another joint funeral was being held for father and son Fred (60) and Brian (26) White.
Fifteen of the victims being buried today are pictured. The remaining eight funerals are due to be held tomorrow.
Terrible grief as 16 are buried
No words can be spoken to ease their heartbreak
By Staff Reporters
FAMILIES broken with grief attended the funerals of their loved ones today as the human cost of the Omagh bomb was counted with another 16 coffins.
Minsters searched to find words of comfort for the bereaved and the thousands of mourners who turned out to support them.
Most of the young people killed in the blast were buried today - a toddler, three boys and five teenagers.
The funeral was also held of grandmother Mary Grimes - a mother of 12 - whose daughter and grand-daughter were buried yesterday.
The first funeral of the day was that of 20-month-old Breda Devine who had survived premature birth to become a lively toddler.
Her mother Tracey remains critically ill in hospital, together with her uncle Gary McGillion and his fiancee Donna Marie Keyes.
They had been in Omagh to buy shoes for Breda who was to be a flower girl at Gary and Donna's wedding next week.
Today parish priest Fr George Doherty struggled for the words to bring comfort to Breda's heart-broken father Paul who has spent the past few days shuttling between his wife's bedside and his three other children Aaron (6) Niamh (3)and Shay (2).
At the same time a joint funeral service was being held in Buncrana for James Barker (12), Sean McLaughlin (12) and Oran Doherty (8).
Later today another joint funeral was being held for father and son Fred (60) and Brian (26) White.
Fifteen of the victims being buried today are pictured. The remaining eight funerals are due to be held tomorrow.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0071
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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