LAST EIGHT VICTIMS LAID TO REST
Last eight victims laid to rest
By Staff Reporters
"NEVER again' was the heartbroken call that rang out across Ulster today as the funerals of the last eight victims of the Omagh bomb were held.
Today's funerals included two mothers, a Sundav school teacher who recently got engaged and a teenager who died in the street with her best friend.
Again, ministers were called upon to help families, friends and mourners - all weighed down with grief - struggle to find some reason why their loved ones died, to find some good amid so much evil.
Again, mourners were reminded of the good sin the victims' lives, their devotion to their families, their love for their friends.
Claire Radford (15). whose brother Alan (16) was buried yesterday, summed up the feelings of many in a moving poem she wrote in his memory.
The poem, called Together Again, which the family asked the Belfast Telegraph to publish in tribute to their son. reads:
"You left so soon and suddenly You left your sweet family You left us here feeling alone But your spirit's here, here at home The time will go, the time will pass Our sorrow and grief, how long will it last? But then you hear the words that say Come, my child, come this way For we'll be together again some day."
The poem, which was written in the Order of Service, ended with the words: "Alan, you will always be missed by your family, but you will always be remembered in all our hearts. A million times we've cried."
At one of today's burials, Fr Eugene Hasson told the congregation at the the funeral of Brian McCrory (54) at St Mary's Church, Killyclogher, how he - like the other victims - died in the most violent way imaginable.
"Even now, five days later, after most of the 28 funerals, we still find it hard to believe that such a thing could have happened here in Omagh, but it did, " he said.
And he repeated the call heard at the 18 funerals held in Ulster in just 48 hours - "Never again, must this happen in our land. Never again."
Elsewhere, Omagh paid tribute to Geraldine Breslin (43) and Libby Rush (57), both wives and mothers.
Mass for Mrs Breslin. who had one son, Gareth, was said by curate Fr John Forbes. He had married Geraldine and husband Mark only three years ago.
A few hours later, the congregation said goodbye to Mrs Rush, who leaves behind two sons, one daughter, and her heartbroken husband Lawrence.
Other funerals today - all eight victims are pictured - included Deborah Ann Cartwright (20). Samantha McFarland (17), Julie Hughes (21) and Esther Gibson (36).
All had promising futures to look forward to.
Deborah Ann was excited about starting her Textile Design degree at Manchester University in September.
Esther, who fell in love at first sight with her fiance Kenneth Hawkes, was to be married next year.
Samantha was a student at Strabane College, while Julie was studying at Dundee University.
The last victim to be buried was Ann McCombe (49), who celebrated her silver wedding anniversary in June.
By Staff Reporters
"NEVER again' was the heartbroken call that rang out across Ulster today as the funerals of the last eight victims of the Omagh bomb were held.
Today's funerals included two mothers, a Sundav school teacher who recently got engaged and a teenager who died in the street with her best friend.
Again, ministers were called upon to help families, friends and mourners - all weighed down with grief - struggle to find some reason why their loved ones died, to find some good amid so much evil.
Again, mourners were reminded of the good sin the victims' lives, their devotion to their families, their love for their friends.
Claire Radford (15). whose brother Alan (16) was buried yesterday, summed up the feelings of many in a moving poem she wrote in his memory.
The poem, called Together Again, which the family asked the Belfast Telegraph to publish in tribute to their son. reads:
"You left so soon and suddenly You left your sweet family You left us here feeling alone But your spirit's here, here at home The time will go, the time will pass Our sorrow and grief, how long will it last? But then you hear the words that say Come, my child, come this way For we'll be together again some day."
The poem, which was written in the Order of Service, ended with the words: "Alan, you will always be missed by your family, but you will always be remembered in all our hearts. A million times we've cried."
At one of today's burials, Fr Eugene Hasson told the congregation at the the funeral of Brian McCrory (54) at St Mary's Church, Killyclogher, how he - like the other victims - died in the most violent way imaginable.
"Even now, five days later, after most of the 28 funerals, we still find it hard to believe that such a thing could have happened here in Omagh, but it did, " he said.
And he repeated the call heard at the 18 funerals held in Ulster in just 48 hours - "Never again, must this happen in our land. Never again."
Elsewhere, Omagh paid tribute to Geraldine Breslin (43) and Libby Rush (57), both wives and mothers.
Mass for Mrs Breslin. who had one son, Gareth, was said by curate Fr John Forbes. He had married Geraldine and husband Mark only three years ago.
A few hours later, the congregation said goodbye to Mrs Rush, who leaves behind two sons, one daughter, and her heartbroken husband Lawrence.
Other funerals today - all eight victims are pictured - included Deborah Ann Cartwright (20). Samantha McFarland (17), Julie Hughes (21) and Esther Gibson (36).
All had promising futures to look forward to.
Deborah Ann was excited about starting her Textile Design degree at Manchester University in September.
Esther, who fell in love at first sight with her fiance Kenneth Hawkes, was to be married next year.
Samantha was a student at Strabane College, while Julie was studying at Dundee University.
The last victim to be buried was Ann McCombe (49), who celebrated her silver wedding anniversary in June.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0100
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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