CHILD BOMB VICTIM LEFT AN EPITAPH FOR OMAGH
Child bomb victim left an 'epitaph for Omagh'
By MARESE MCDONAGH
PRESIDENT McAleese will today attend the funeral of the Co Donegal schoolboy who just two months ago presented her with a poem she sees as "an epitaph for Omagh". Signing the book of condolences for the Omagh victims at House yesterday, the President" described 12-year-old Sean McLaughlin as a prophetic child who had left a powerful message. She recalled Sean's visit to Aras an Uachtarain June 18 with a group of pals from Scoil losagain, Buncrana when he presented her with a copy of the poem The Bridge.
"You would almost think reading the words of it that there was some deep running prophetic sensibility running through this child's heart and soul because the words of it could be an epitaph for Omagh," she said.
The poem read: "Orange and Green - it doesn't matter/ United now / Don't shatter our dream/ Scatter the seeds of peace over our land/ So we can travel/ Hand in hand across the bridge of hope."
Sean who lived two doors from Oran Doherty, another victim of Saturday's massacre, was an altar boy at the local Church, St Michael's Oratory and was remembered as a happy child.
The President will today attend a funeral service for the two boys and their friend James Barker (12) the young Chelsea supporter whose parents had returned from England to give their family "a better quality of life",
Mrs McAleese said: "This child who talks about scattering the seeds of peace over our land has told us from his grave that we have to renew, re-commit ourselves no matter how much provocation, no matter how much hurt, no matter how much bitterness or anger there is, all of it righteous."
By MARESE MCDONAGH
PRESIDENT McAleese will today attend the funeral of the Co Donegal schoolboy who just two months ago presented her with a poem she sees as "an epitaph for Omagh". Signing the book of condolences for the Omagh victims at House yesterday, the President" described 12-year-old Sean McLaughlin as a prophetic child who had left a powerful message. She recalled Sean's visit to Aras an Uachtarain June 18 with a group of pals from Scoil losagain, Buncrana when he presented her with a copy of the poem The Bridge.
"You would almost think reading the words of it that there was some deep running prophetic sensibility running through this child's heart and soul because the words of it could be an epitaph for Omagh," she said.
The poem read: "Orange and Green - it doesn't matter/ United now / Don't shatter our dream/ Scatter the seeds of peace over our land/ So we can travel/ Hand in hand across the bridge of hope."
Sean who lived two doors from Oran Doherty, another victim of Saturday's massacre, was an altar boy at the local Church, St Michael's Oratory and was remembered as a happy child.
The President will today attend a funeral service for the two boys and their friend James Barker (12) the young Chelsea supporter whose parents had returned from England to give their family "a better quality of life",
Mrs McAleese said: "This child who talks about scattering the seeds of peace over our land has told us from his grave that we have to renew, re-commit ourselves no matter how much provocation, no matter how much hurt, no matter how much bitterness or anger there is, all of it righteous."
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/201
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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