OUR JOLENE IS IN HEAVEN THIS MORNING
Our Jolene is in heaven this morning'
By Claire McGahan
THE 28 people who died in the Omagh atrocity could be martyrs for peace, mourners for a teenage victim have heard.
Eskra parish priest Father Terence Connolly was speaking at the funeral of Jolene Marlow (17) who he described as an "exemplary and beautiful child."
Fr Connolly told hundreds of mourners packed inside and standing in the rain outside St Patrick's Church yesterday that west Tyrone had escaped the worst of the Troubles until Saturday's massacre. Jolene should have been receiving her A-level results today.
But yesterday Jolene's coffin was draped with her sports jerseys bearing the colours of the two teams she played for - her school camogie team and St Macartan's ladies football team.
Her weeping team-mates and school friends from Loreto Grammar formed a guard of honour as her coffin was brought to the church from her home at Newtownsaville.
The funeral was video- taped so that Jolene's 16-year- old sister Nikki could see it when she is well enough.
She and Jolene had been shopping together in Omagh on Saturday - Nikki is still in Belfast City Hospital recovering from her injuries.
Mourners were led by the girls' parents. Joe and Bridie, and their younger brothers, Paul. Niall and Rory.
Father Terence Connolly said the people of west Tyrone had believed the Good Friday Agreement signalled an end to death through violence and the suffering of people like Jolene Marlow and the 27 other victims.
He recalled Pope John II's visit to Ireland 20 years ago, before Jolene Marlow was bom.
He said: "The Holy Father spoke at Drogheda and he spoke to the men of violence. He said 'on my knees I beg you. lay down your arms'. Was he listened to?
"And then we had all these 20 years more of needless, ceaseless, senseless violence and suffering that could have been avoided had we listened to God's word.
"So maybe our pain is not in vain. Maybe this could be a turning point in the tide and maybe we can look for a better future.
"And maybe those people who died on Omagh's street were the Holy Innocents all over again, slaughtered for peace and our little Jolene could be a holy martyr in heaven this morning".
By Claire McGahan
THE 28 people who died in the Omagh atrocity could be martyrs for peace, mourners for a teenage victim have heard.
Eskra parish priest Father Terence Connolly was speaking at the funeral of Jolene Marlow (17) who he described as an "exemplary and beautiful child."
Fr Connolly told hundreds of mourners packed inside and standing in the rain outside St Patrick's Church yesterday that west Tyrone had escaped the worst of the Troubles until Saturday's massacre. Jolene should have been receiving her A-level results today.
But yesterday Jolene's coffin was draped with her sports jerseys bearing the colours of the two teams she played for - her school camogie team and St Macartan's ladies football team.
Her weeping team-mates and school friends from Loreto Grammar formed a guard of honour as her coffin was brought to the church from her home at Newtownsaville.
The funeral was video- taped so that Jolene's 16-year- old sister Nikki could see it when she is well enough.
She and Jolene had been shopping together in Omagh on Saturday - Nikki is still in Belfast City Hospital recovering from her injuries.
Mourners were led by the girls' parents. Joe and Bridie, and their younger brothers, Paul. Niall and Rory.
Father Terence Connolly said the people of west Tyrone had believed the Good Friday Agreement signalled an end to death through violence and the suffering of people like Jolene Marlow and the 27 other victims.
He recalled Pope John II's visit to Ireland 20 years ago, before Jolene Marlow was bom.
He said: "The Holy Father spoke at Drogheda and he spoke to the men of violence. He said 'on my knees I beg you. lay down your arms'. Was he listened to?
"And then we had all these 20 years more of needless, ceaseless, senseless violence and suffering that could have been avoided had we listened to God's word.
"So maybe our pain is not in vain. Maybe this could be a turning point in the tide and maybe we can look for a better future.
"And maybe those people who died on Omagh's street were the Holy Innocents all over again, slaughtered for peace and our little Jolene could be a holy martyr in heaven this morning".
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0124
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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