TEARFUL FAREWELL IN BUNCRANA
Tearful farewell in Buncrana
Thousands turned out in Buncrana yesterday to bid a tearful final farewell to the three young local boys killed in the Omagh massacre.
Mourners lined the streets of the seaside town as the coffins of Oran Doherty (8), Shaun McLaughlin and James Barker, both aged 12, were taken from their homes for Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church at Cockhill.
Local curate, Fr. Shane Bradley, originally from Omagh. said the bombing had left the town a strange and alien place - "desolate and full of
inconsolable torment."
Northern Irelands First Minister, Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, and his Deputy, Seamus Mallon, of the SDLP, were among the packed congregation which heard Bishop of Derry, Dr.Seamus Hegarty, urge politicians to keep the peace process on track.
Earlier, president Mary McAleese visited the homes of the three young victims as did members of emergency services who attended Saturday's
horrific scene.
There were uncontrollable scenes of grief outside the homes of Celtic fanatic, Oran Doherty, and his neighbour. Shaun McLaughlin, as their remains left Knockalla Drive for the two-mile journey to the Church on the outskirts of the town.
Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, and the party's chief negotiator. Martin McGuinness, were among the mourners who accompanied the cortege along Ferris Lane onto the town's Main Street were businesses had closed as a mark of respect.
At Westbrook Road, the funeral procession was joined by the cortege of the third young victim, James Barker, which had been brought from Porthaw, a mile outside the town.
Durning the service, which was attended by survivors of the tragedy, including visiting students prayers were said for 12 year old Fernando Blasco and his supervisor, Rocio Abad Ramos (23), the two visiting Spaniards who also died in the blast. Their funerals took place in Madrid the previous day.
In his homily, Fr. Bradley said no words could describe the grief and pain the bombers had caused.
He said Buncrana was a strange and alien place over which a dark shadow had been cast.
He added: "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."
Fr. Bradley said the hearts of the people of Buncrana had been blown apart by the bomb which, he added, occurred at a time when the "so called trouble'' was supposed to be at an end.
Representatives of Celtic Football Club who travelled from Glasgow for the service, including Danish international defender, Marc Reiper, carried the remains of Oran Doherty from the church before the dead boy's family accompanied him on his final journey. The three schoolboy friends were laid to rest, side by side, in the adjourning graveyard.
Thousands turned out in Buncrana yesterday to bid a tearful final farewell to the three young local boys killed in the Omagh massacre.
Mourners lined the streets of the seaside town as the coffins of Oran Doherty (8), Shaun McLaughlin and James Barker, both aged 12, were taken from their homes for Requiem Mass in St. Mary's Church at Cockhill.
Local curate, Fr. Shane Bradley, originally from Omagh. said the bombing had left the town a strange and alien place - "desolate and full of
inconsolable torment."
Northern Irelands First Minister, Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, and his Deputy, Seamus Mallon, of the SDLP, were among the packed congregation which heard Bishop of Derry, Dr.Seamus Hegarty, urge politicians to keep the peace process on track.
Earlier, president Mary McAleese visited the homes of the three young victims as did members of emergency services who attended Saturday's
horrific scene.
There were uncontrollable scenes of grief outside the homes of Celtic fanatic, Oran Doherty, and his neighbour. Shaun McLaughlin, as their remains left Knockalla Drive for the two-mile journey to the Church on the outskirts of the town.
Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, and the party's chief negotiator. Martin McGuinness, were among the mourners who accompanied the cortege along Ferris Lane onto the town's Main Street were businesses had closed as a mark of respect.
At Westbrook Road, the funeral procession was joined by the cortege of the third young victim, James Barker, which had been brought from Porthaw, a mile outside the town.
Durning the service, which was attended by survivors of the tragedy, including visiting students prayers were said for 12 year old Fernando Blasco and his supervisor, Rocio Abad Ramos (23), the two visiting Spaniards who also died in the blast. Their funerals took place in Madrid the previous day.
In his homily, Fr. Bradley said no words could describe the grief and pain the bombers had caused.
He said Buncrana was a strange and alien place over which a dark shadow had been cast.
He added: "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."
Fr. Bradley said the hearts of the people of Buncrana had been blown apart by the bomb which, he added, occurred at a time when the "so called trouble'' was supposed to be at an end.
Representatives of Celtic Football Club who travelled from Glasgow for the service, including Danish international defender, Marc Reiper, carried the remains of Oran Doherty from the church before the dead boy's family accompanied him on his final journey. The three schoolboy friends were laid to rest, side by side, in the adjourning graveyard.
Further Information
Publisher: DONEGAL DEMOCRAT
Ref: DOD/003
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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