IT IS OUR SADDEST MOMENT
It is our saddest moment'
Priest tells of town's inconsolable grief
By Enda McClafferty
A FEW weeks ago Sean McLaughlin sat down to write a poem to Irish President Mary McAleese about his hopes for peace in Northern Ireland.
Around the same time James Barker also put pen to paper to set out his own dreams for the future.
Today those hopes and dreams remain only as the treasured memories of heartbroken families as Sean (12) and James (12) are laid to rest in Buncrana with their young friend Oran Doherty (8).
The three boys had left the town at the weekend to spend the day with their Spanish friends in Omagh.
The three young local boys were killed with one Spanish boy and his teacher.
The funerals of the two Spanish victims yesterday took place in Madrid.
The remaining Spanish students joined the mourners at today's joint funeral.
President McAleese was due to join Northern Ireland's First Minister David Trimble and his deputy Seamus Mallon at the service in St Mary's Church at Cockhill.
Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were also due to attend.
Father Shane Bradley, who has spent the past three days trying to console the three families, delivered the homily.
He spoke of the "Godless moment" which plunged the entire community into inconsolable grief.
"It is an eerie place - lonely, desolate and full of inconsolable torment. It is a place no one, absolutely no one should ever have to visit.
"For the families of Sean, Oran and James the way forward seems particularly bleak. There is such despair and darkness in their lives and it seems that the light will never shine for them again."
Fr Bradley also spoke of the suffering of the two bereaved Spanish families.
"Over 3,000 families have been bereaved with virtually every family in the place we refer to as the North somehow affected and also elsewhere in Britain and here in this jurisdiction.
"And yet this seems to be the worst, coming as it does in the wake of so much hope and with the glimmers of new light dawning over our dark history.
"It is our saddest moment, our darkest hour. If it is, then will it herald a new dawn indeed? I hope and pray so."
Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty was also to take part in the service along with the Bishop of Nottingham Jim McGuinness.
Local parish priest Joseph Carlin was the main celebrant.
Priest tells of town's inconsolable grief
By Enda McClafferty
A FEW weeks ago Sean McLaughlin sat down to write a poem to Irish President Mary McAleese about his hopes for peace in Northern Ireland.
Around the same time James Barker also put pen to paper to set out his own dreams for the future.
Today those hopes and dreams remain only as the treasured memories of heartbroken families as Sean (12) and James (12) are laid to rest in Buncrana with their young friend Oran Doherty (8).
The three boys had left the town at the weekend to spend the day with their Spanish friends in Omagh.
The three young local boys were killed with one Spanish boy and his teacher.
The funerals of the two Spanish victims yesterday took place in Madrid.
The remaining Spanish students joined the mourners at today's joint funeral.
President McAleese was due to join Northern Ireland's First Minister David Trimble and his deputy Seamus Mallon at the service in St Mary's Church at Cockhill.
Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were also due to attend.
Father Shane Bradley, who has spent the past three days trying to console the three families, delivered the homily.
He spoke of the "Godless moment" which plunged the entire community into inconsolable grief.
"It is an eerie place - lonely, desolate and full of inconsolable torment. It is a place no one, absolutely no one should ever have to visit.
"For the families of Sean, Oran and James the way forward seems particularly bleak. There is such despair and darkness in their lives and it seems that the light will never shine for them again."
Fr Bradley also spoke of the suffering of the two bereaved Spanish families.
"Over 3,000 families have been bereaved with virtually every family in the place we refer to as the North somehow affected and also elsewhere in Britain and here in this jurisdiction.
"And yet this seems to be the worst, coming as it does in the wake of so much hope and with the glimmers of new light dawning over our dark history.
"It is our saddest moment, our darkest hour. If it is, then will it herald a new dawn indeed? I hope and pray so."
Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty was also to take part in the service along with the Bishop of Nottingham Jim McGuinness.
Local parish priest Joseph Carlin was the main celebrant.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0627
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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