A COMMUNITY UNITED IN GRIEF
A Community united in grief
BUNCRANA came to a standstill on Wednesday as thousands of mourners paid their final respects to the three young boys who were killed in the Omagh bomb massacre. "A strange and alien place of undescribable grief" were just some of the words used by local curate, Fr Shane Bradley at the Requiem Mass in St Mary's church, Cockhill for Shaun McLaughlin, James Barker (12) and Oran Doherty (8) as he attempted to sum up the feelings of a community struggling to come to terms with unimaginable grief.
There was harrowing scenes as the bodies of the three boys were taken from their nearby homes to the church. It was later described by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Seamus Hegarty, as a remarkable display of unified grief by a shattered community.
He asked the "congregation to pray in their charity for those who were in any way responsible for last Saturday's atrocity that they would receive the grace of repentance and seek forgiveness for what they have done.
Before leaving their homes at Knockalla Drive and Porthaw Glen for the last sad journey. President Mary McAleese called to visit the three stunned families to pay her respects and sympathise with them on their tragic loss. Knockalla Drive was a sea of people waiting to walk the last two miles with their neighbours. Flowers were strewn on the side of the road. Similar scenes were evident at Porthaw as hundreds gathered to accompany the Barker family.
All along Buncrana Main Street and onto the Cockhill Road, the streets were lined with people who followed behind the silent cortege as
it passed.
At Westbrook Bridge the hearse carrying James Barker joined with the two hearses from Knockalla. Not a sound was heard, only the tolling of the bell coming from the church, where thousands more waited.
People had started arriving at Cockhill Church as early as 9am. anticipating the huge congregation. Gardai kept roads clear and the St. John's Ambulance and the Order of Malta were on hand if needed.
Pupils and teachers from Scoil losagain. Buncrana and Foyle Prep in Derry formed a line of honour up to the door of the church.
The Chairman of Donegal County Council, Cllr Danny Harkin and Buncrana Urban Council. Cllr Jim Ferry greeted dignatories as they entered the church.
Just before midday the hearses arrived and one by one the coffins were carried in. Tears flowed when first Oran Doherty's coffin entered, draped in the flag of his beloved Celtic Football Club. Next was Shaun McLaughlin and then James Barker.
The choir sang "Here I am Lord" as the three coffins were placed side by side at the front of the church.
Parish Priest Father Joseph Carolan was the chief celebrant. He concelebrated the Requiem Mass with the Bishop McGuinness of Nottingham, representing the Catholic Church in England. Father Charlie Keaney and Father Shane Bradley
Before Requiem Mass began Father Carolan welcomed the families and asked God to help them in their sorrow. He welcomed President McAleese, the Spanish Ambassador, Jose Maria Sanz Bastor, British Ambassador Veronica Sutherland, Minister Mary O'Rourke, representing the Irish Government, Mr David Trimble, First Minister of the new Northern Ireland Assembly together with Mr Seamus Mallon, Deputy First Minister, Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness.
The many other public figures included Councillors from. Donegal, Derry, Omagh and Strabane, and Dail Deputies from the County. The first lesson from the Book of Wisdom was read by John Toy, uncle of Shaun McLaughlin. Victor Barker, James' father read the Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd" and Oran Doherty's sister, Lisa, read the second lesson from St.John.
Father Bradley's homily voiced the thoughts and hopes of the community.
"We in Buncrana are in a strange and alien place today - one that nothing or no one could have ever prepared us for. With us in this place are people from Spain, Augher, Beragh, Carrickmore, Donemana, Drumquin, Eskra, Killyclogher, Loughmacrory and of course Omagh. And people have been here before us - the list is all too long -people from Belfast, Derry, Monaghan. Dublin, Enniskillen, Ballykelly, Coleraine. Warrington, Manchester, Greysteel, Loughinisland, Ballymoney to name but a few," he said
"It is a place of indescribable grief- a land of dark shadow and of appalling pain, for which there are no words. And while all of us are in this space, at the heart of it are three broken hearted families from among us, two Spanish families, as well as two other local families, who's children have been injured and the families of ten visiting Spanish students. There is John and Patricia McLaughlin and all the Wanishes - there is Michael and Bernie Doherty and all the Boss clan and Victor and Donna Marie and all the Barkers, Fr Bradley 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. "We got here against our will as a result of a terrifying evil act, as people who seem to have such a distorted grip on reality that they thought there cause could be furthered by planting that bomb. Their action has not only wounded over 200 people and caused emotional for countless others, but has also brought our Spanish visitors and ourselves to this brutal, brutal place. I can only pray that they may truly see what they have done and repent in contrite sorrow.
"So where do we go from here ? How can we move on ? Part of us does not want to - as we become absorbed by the uniqueness of this place. We just do not know for it is such a strange place and all of us are newcomers," the Omagh born curate told a hushed congregation.
"For the families of Shaun, Oran and James, the way forward seems particularly bleak. There is despair and darkness in their lives that it can seem that the light will never shine for them again. But for us all - there is uncertainty about where to go - how to pick up the pieces, with all our hearts blown out by the Omagh bomb, happening at a time when the so called Troubles were supposed to be near an end.
"For the people of our whole island, sadly this is not a new experience. Over 3,000 families have been bereaved, with virtually every family in the place we refer to as "the North" somehow effected and also countless families in Britain and here. Yet this seems the worst, coming as it does in the wake of so much hope and with the glimmers of a new light dawning over our dark history. Is this our saddest moment - our darkest hour ? If it is, then will it herald a new dawn indeed ? I hope and pray so," Fr Bradley said.
"And for us in Buncrana -how can we move on ? I really don't have an answer but dare I suggest we go in faith and trust in God ? As I see it the only counter to this despicable evil is the inexpressible love of God. The only reality greater than this evil is the truth of God. The only source of life and hope in the face of death is the Source of all life - God. And so we turn to the Gospel, the Good News," he added.
"We can feel like Martha and say with her "If you had been there Lord our sons would not have died." For it is indeed as if God turned away at that moment on Saturday in my hometown of Omagh. It was truly a godless moment.
"But as we read on we are told that Jesus wept and so he is weeping with us all, sharing our anguish carrying our burden of grief. Though it does not feel like it, we are not alone in this place, Jesus is with each and every one of us - and every tear we shed, he sheds with us. This was never part of his Father's will for us,"
"Then we hear of his dramatic call "Unbind him, Set him free." Will we be unbound ? Will he set the families of Sean, Oran and James, as well as the many others free ? It won't be life as it was - this would runs too deep and the scar will be on us till we go to our own graves," Fr Bradley said.
"But the dust had not even settled on the streets of Omagh when Christ's voice could be heard - In the overwhelming kindness of the people of Omagh, in the compassion and care of everyone - police, social workers, doctors, nurses, counsellors, clergy of all persuasions and countless others. In the desire of us all to rally around our hurt sisters and brothers in our three bereaved families, in the families of the injured and in our Spanish visitors. In the peace rally last night and in the endless expressions of goodwill from all over the world - literally," he added.
"These expressions of love and care are in truth life as we are meant to live it, the life of God, the life that Christ brought to Lazarus and he brings to us. They are as real and as true as the bomb itself. It won't be today or tomorrow or for a long time to come but we need not be trapped in this tomb like experience forever. This is not our eternal destiny. Christ is already setting about freeing us. Such is our faith. Such is our hope. What else is there ? Who else but Christ can set us free from this strange and alien place ?," he concluded. The prayers of the faithful followed in Irish, Spanish and English, read by friends of the dead children.
Local musician Dinny McLaughlin played a beautiful air on the fiddle at the Offertory Procession. Holy Communion was distributed inside and outside the church by twenty one priests of the diocese,
"On behalf of the parish and the families we would like to express our appreciation to all those people who took time to call and help us in so many ways," Fr. Keaney said.
Father Carolan invited all of the families, relatives, dignatories and the hundreds of media personnel, relaying Buncrana's great sadness across the world, to a buffet lunch provided by members of the parish in the nearby community hall. He thanked everyone in Omagh for their help.
Shaun McLaughlin's poem for peace was read aloud as the cortege left the church and wound it's way through the graveyard, thronged with mourners.
To show their solidarity to the family of Oran Doherty, a big Celtic fan, player Mark Reiper and coaching staff member Willie McStay came to help carry his coffin from the church.
The heart broken cries of the families would have brought tears from a stone as the three little boys were buried.
Oran Doherty is survived by his parents Mickey and Bernie, sisters Lisa, Amanda, Aisling and brothers Geroid, Oisin and Caoimhe.
Shaun McLaughlin is survived by his parents John and Patricia, brother Christopher and sister Elaine.
James Barker is survived by his parents Victor and Donna Marie, sisters Estella and Erin Esther and brother Oliver Tristan.
BUNCRANA came to a standstill on Wednesday as thousands of mourners paid their final respects to the three young boys who were killed in the Omagh bomb massacre. "A strange and alien place of undescribable grief" were just some of the words used by local curate, Fr Shane Bradley at the Requiem Mass in St Mary's church, Cockhill for Shaun McLaughlin, James Barker (12) and Oran Doherty (8) as he attempted to sum up the feelings of a community struggling to come to terms with unimaginable grief.
There was harrowing scenes as the bodies of the three boys were taken from their nearby homes to the church. It was later described by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Seamus Hegarty, as a remarkable display of unified grief by a shattered community.
He asked the "congregation to pray in their charity for those who were in any way responsible for last Saturday's atrocity that they would receive the grace of repentance and seek forgiveness for what they have done.
Before leaving their homes at Knockalla Drive and Porthaw Glen for the last sad journey. President Mary McAleese called to visit the three stunned families to pay her respects and sympathise with them on their tragic loss. Knockalla Drive was a sea of people waiting to walk the last two miles with their neighbours. Flowers were strewn on the side of the road. Similar scenes were evident at Porthaw as hundreds gathered to accompany the Barker family.
All along Buncrana Main Street and onto the Cockhill Road, the streets were lined with people who followed behind the silent cortege as
it passed.
At Westbrook Bridge the hearse carrying James Barker joined with the two hearses from Knockalla. Not a sound was heard, only the tolling of the bell coming from the church, where thousands more waited.
People had started arriving at Cockhill Church as early as 9am. anticipating the huge congregation. Gardai kept roads clear and the St. John's Ambulance and the Order of Malta were on hand if needed.
Pupils and teachers from Scoil losagain. Buncrana and Foyle Prep in Derry formed a line of honour up to the door of the church.
The Chairman of Donegal County Council, Cllr Danny Harkin and Buncrana Urban Council. Cllr Jim Ferry greeted dignatories as they entered the church.
Just before midday the hearses arrived and one by one the coffins were carried in. Tears flowed when first Oran Doherty's coffin entered, draped in the flag of his beloved Celtic Football Club. Next was Shaun McLaughlin and then James Barker.
The choir sang "Here I am Lord" as the three coffins were placed side by side at the front of the church.
Parish Priest Father Joseph Carolan was the chief celebrant. He concelebrated the Requiem Mass with the Bishop McGuinness of Nottingham, representing the Catholic Church in England. Father Charlie Keaney and Father Shane Bradley
Before Requiem Mass began Father Carolan welcomed the families and asked God to help them in their sorrow. He welcomed President McAleese, the Spanish Ambassador, Jose Maria Sanz Bastor, British Ambassador Veronica Sutherland, Minister Mary O'Rourke, representing the Irish Government, Mr David Trimble, First Minister of the new Northern Ireland Assembly together with Mr Seamus Mallon, Deputy First Minister, Mr Gerry Adams and Mr Martin McGuinness.
The many other public figures included Councillors from. Donegal, Derry, Omagh and Strabane, and Dail Deputies from the County. The first lesson from the Book of Wisdom was read by John Toy, uncle of Shaun McLaughlin. Victor Barker, James' father read the Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd" and Oran Doherty's sister, Lisa, read the second lesson from St.John.
Father Bradley's homily voiced the thoughts and hopes of the community.
"We in Buncrana are in a strange and alien place today - one that nothing or no one could have ever prepared us for. With us in this place are people from Spain, Augher, Beragh, Carrickmore, Donemana, Drumquin, Eskra, Killyclogher, Loughmacrory and of course Omagh. And people have been here before us - the list is all too long -people from Belfast, Derry, Monaghan. Dublin, Enniskillen, Ballykelly, Coleraine. Warrington, Manchester, Greysteel, Loughinisland, Ballymoney to name but a few," he said
"It is a place of indescribable grief- a land of dark shadow and of appalling pain, for which there are no words. And while all of us are in this space, at the heart of it are three broken hearted families from among us, two Spanish families, as well as two other local families, who's children have been injured and the families of ten visiting Spanish students. There is John and Patricia McLaughlin and all the Wanishes - there is Michael and Bernie Doherty and all the Boss clan and Victor and Donna Marie and all the Barkers, Fr Bradley 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. "We got here against our will as a result of a terrifying evil act, as people who seem to have such a distorted grip on reality that they thought there cause could be furthered by planting that bomb. Their action has not only wounded over 200 people and caused emotional for countless others, but has also brought our Spanish visitors and ourselves to this brutal, brutal place. I can only pray that they may truly see what they have done and repent in contrite sorrow.
"So where do we go from here ? How can we move on ? Part of us does not want to - as we become absorbed by the uniqueness of this place. We just do not know for it is such a strange place and all of us are newcomers," the Omagh born curate told a hushed congregation.
"For the families of Shaun, Oran and James, the way forward seems particularly bleak. There is despair and darkness in their lives that it can seem that the light will never shine for them again. But for us all - there is uncertainty about where to go - how to pick up the pieces, with all our hearts blown out by the Omagh bomb, happening at a time when the so called Troubles were supposed to be near an end.
"For the people of our whole island, sadly this is not a new experience. Over 3,000 families have been bereaved, with virtually every family in the place we refer to as "the North" somehow effected and also countless families in Britain and here. Yet this seems the worst, coming as it does in the wake of so much hope and with the glimmers of a new light dawning over our dark history. Is this our saddest moment - our darkest hour ? If it is, then will it herald a new dawn indeed ? I hope and pray so," Fr Bradley said.
"And for us in Buncrana -how can we move on ? I really don't have an answer but dare I suggest we go in faith and trust in God ? As I see it the only counter to this despicable evil is the inexpressible love of God. The only reality greater than this evil is the truth of God. The only source of life and hope in the face of death is the Source of all life - God. And so we turn to the Gospel, the Good News," he added.
"We can feel like Martha and say with her "If you had been there Lord our sons would not have died." For it is indeed as if God turned away at that moment on Saturday in my hometown of Omagh. It was truly a godless moment.
"But as we read on we are told that Jesus wept and so he is weeping with us all, sharing our anguish carrying our burden of grief. Though it does not feel like it, we are not alone in this place, Jesus is with each and every one of us - and every tear we shed, he sheds with us. This was never part of his Father's will for us,"
"Then we hear of his dramatic call "Unbind him, Set him free." Will we be unbound ? Will he set the families of Sean, Oran and James, as well as the many others free ? It won't be life as it was - this would runs too deep and the scar will be on us till we go to our own graves," Fr Bradley said.
"But the dust had not even settled on the streets of Omagh when Christ's voice could be heard - In the overwhelming kindness of the people of Omagh, in the compassion and care of everyone - police, social workers, doctors, nurses, counsellors, clergy of all persuasions and countless others. In the desire of us all to rally around our hurt sisters and brothers in our three bereaved families, in the families of the injured and in our Spanish visitors. In the peace rally last night and in the endless expressions of goodwill from all over the world - literally," he added.
"These expressions of love and care are in truth life as we are meant to live it, the life of God, the life that Christ brought to Lazarus and he brings to us. They are as real and as true as the bomb itself. It won't be today or tomorrow or for a long time to come but we need not be trapped in this tomb like experience forever. This is not our eternal destiny. Christ is already setting about freeing us. Such is our faith. Such is our hope. What else is there ? Who else but Christ can set us free from this strange and alien place ?," he concluded. The prayers of the faithful followed in Irish, Spanish and English, read by friends of the dead children.
Local musician Dinny McLaughlin played a beautiful air on the fiddle at the Offertory Procession. Holy Communion was distributed inside and outside the church by twenty one priests of the diocese,
"On behalf of the parish and the families we would like to express our appreciation to all those people who took time to call and help us in so many ways," Fr. Keaney said.
Father Carolan invited all of the families, relatives, dignatories and the hundreds of media personnel, relaying Buncrana's great sadness across the world, to a buffet lunch provided by members of the parish in the nearby community hall. He thanked everyone in Omagh for their help.
Shaun McLaughlin's poem for peace was read aloud as the cortege left the church and wound it's way through the graveyard, thronged with mourners.
To show their solidarity to the family of Oran Doherty, a big Celtic fan, player Mark Reiper and coaching staff member Willie McStay came to help carry his coffin from the church.
The heart broken cries of the families would have brought tears from a stone as the three little boys were buried.
Oran Doherty is survived by his parents Mickey and Bernie, sisters Lisa, Amanda, Aisling and brothers Geroid, Oisin and Caoimhe.
Shaun McLaughlin is survived by his parents John and Patricia, brother Christopher and sister Elaine.
James Barker is survived by his parents Victor and Donna Marie, sisters Estella and Erin Esther and brother Oliver Tristan.
Further Information
Publisher: DERRY PEOPLE DONEGAL NEWS
Ref: DPDN/001
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.