THE LONG JOURNEY HOME
The long journey home
MY JOURNEY back from Buncrana on Monday afternoon is one which I hope I will never have to repeat
By Stephen Maguire
In eight years reporting various tragedies which have struck County Donegal I have never encountered such an outpouring of grief.
The sight of the McLaughlin family of Knockalla Drive, huddled together in their sitting room asking why?
Just yards away the sight of Mickey Doherty, trembling with anger as he sat on his garden wall wondering when his little man Oran was going to come home.
As I drove back to Letterkenny a Sinead O'Connor song echoed through the car 'meanwhile crazies are killing our sons'. Sometimes music is a healer, it allows an outpouring of grief.
BROKE DOWN
Having bottled up so much emotion for the past three hours I finally pulled in at Burnfoot and broke down.
I sat there for a time. Perhaps it was five minutes, perhaps an hour. I really don't know.
All I knew was that I couldn't carry on any longer. Each time I attempted to start the car, another vision would make its way into my mind and
tears would yet again well up in my already red eyes.
Like so many other people I asked why and muttered what kind of God would allow this to happen to such ordinary people. What had they done to deserve this. But of course there are no answers.
The faces of John and Patricia McLaughlin, of Lisa and Mickey Doherty, of a smiling young Shaun McLaughlin all burst through my mind. Mickey Doherty's words "I just want to die. Nothing will ever bring back my little man," will forever remain in my mind.
I finally made it back to Letterkenny where I had planned to work late. But my stomach and a wandering mind wouldn't allow me to concentrate.
I decided to call it a day. When I went to get into my car I discovered a parking ticket on the windscreen. Normally I would get uptight but at times like these parking tickets seem trivial.
It's still lying on the back seat. I'll pay it sometime.
The memories of my visit to Buncrana will live with me forever.
As I sit here now, the three bodies of the young Buncrana lads have arrived back in their hometown where they belong.
MY JOURNEY back from Buncrana on Monday afternoon is one which I hope I will never have to repeat
By Stephen Maguire
In eight years reporting various tragedies which have struck County Donegal I have never encountered such an outpouring of grief.
The sight of the McLaughlin family of Knockalla Drive, huddled together in their sitting room asking why?
Just yards away the sight of Mickey Doherty, trembling with anger as he sat on his garden wall wondering when his little man Oran was going to come home.
As I drove back to Letterkenny a Sinead O'Connor song echoed through the car 'meanwhile crazies are killing our sons'. Sometimes music is a healer, it allows an outpouring of grief.
BROKE DOWN
Having bottled up so much emotion for the past three hours I finally pulled in at Burnfoot and broke down.
I sat there for a time. Perhaps it was five minutes, perhaps an hour. I really don't know.
All I knew was that I couldn't carry on any longer. Each time I attempted to start the car, another vision would make its way into my mind and
tears would yet again well up in my already red eyes.
Like so many other people I asked why and muttered what kind of God would allow this to happen to such ordinary people. What had they done to deserve this. But of course there are no answers.
The faces of John and Patricia McLaughlin, of Lisa and Mickey Doherty, of a smiling young Shaun McLaughlin all burst through my mind. Mickey Doherty's words "I just want to die. Nothing will ever bring back my little man," will forever remain in my mind.
I finally made it back to Letterkenny where I had planned to work late. But my stomach and a wandering mind wouldn't allow me to concentrate.
I decided to call it a day. When I went to get into my car I discovered a parking ticket on the windscreen. Normally I would get uptight but at times like these parking tickets seem trivial.
It's still lying on the back seat. I'll pay it sometime.
The memories of my visit to Buncrana will live with me forever.
As I sit here now, the three bodies of the young Buncrana lads have arrived back in their hometown where they belong.
Further Information
Publisher: DONEGAL PEOPLE'S PRESS
Ref: DP/015
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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