CHILDREN TOO YOUNG TO GRASP TRAGEDY
Children too young to grasp the tragedy
By Tim Brannigan
A CROWD of around 200 mourners gathered outside the Monaghan family home near Augher yesterday morning.
They ranged in age from the very young to the frail and elderly and the only remarkable features were the brightly coloured dresses of the young girls. And the silence.
The press were kept at a distance and told not to move from their allocated position by an RUC woman charged with ensuring that the families wishes were respected.
One photographer complained to her that the mourners' cars and the mourners themselves were blocking his view of the coffins coming out of the front door of the Monaghan bungalow.
"There's nothing we can do," said the RUC woman.
"Well if you could just ask the mourners to move a few feet to the left, that would be perfect."
The police woman looked at him in disbelief before turning away.
When the cortege made its way down the narrow lane to St Macartan's Church many mourners struggled with their emotions while others were simply overwhelmed with grief.
The white coffin of baby Maura was carried by two men. It was only a small coffin, of course, but in their grief the two pall bearers seemed to be carrying an unbelievably heavy burden.
The surviving Monaghan children Aoibheann, Eilisha and Patrick seemed to be preoccupied with the occasion and the crowd, too young
to be aware of the terrible situation that they were in.
Once the attention moves on they will realise that something is very different and very, very wrong in their lives.
They held the hands of older mourners and exchanged glances with each other. As they walked behind their mother and baby sister's coffins they focused on the row of snapping cameras who in turn focused back on them.
In the field opposite the church the media packed up their kit the instant the burials were complete.
The media circus pulled out of town while mourners stood in silent, tearful embraces in the graveyard 200 yards away.
By Tim Brannigan
A CROWD of around 200 mourners gathered outside the Monaghan family home near Augher yesterday morning.
They ranged in age from the very young to the frail and elderly and the only remarkable features were the brightly coloured dresses of the young girls. And the silence.
The press were kept at a distance and told not to move from their allocated position by an RUC woman charged with ensuring that the families wishes were respected.
One photographer complained to her that the mourners' cars and the mourners themselves were blocking his view of the coffins coming out of the front door of the Monaghan bungalow.
"There's nothing we can do," said the RUC woman.
"Well if you could just ask the mourners to move a few feet to the left, that would be perfect."
The police woman looked at him in disbelief before turning away.
When the cortege made its way down the narrow lane to St Macartan's Church many mourners struggled with their emotions while others were simply overwhelmed with grief.
The white coffin of baby Maura was carried by two men. It was only a small coffin, of course, but in their grief the two pall bearers seemed to be carrying an unbelievably heavy burden.
The surviving Monaghan children Aoibheann, Eilisha and Patrick seemed to be preoccupied with the occasion and the crowd, too young
to be aware of the terrible situation that they were in.
Once the attention moves on they will realise that something is very different and very, very wrong in their lives.
They held the hands of older mourners and exchanged glances with each other. As they walked behind their mother and baby sister's coffins they focused on the row of snapping cameras who in turn focused back on them.
In the field opposite the church the media packed up their kit the instant the burials were complete.
The media circus pulled out of town while mourners stood in silent, tearful embraces in the graveyard 200 yards away.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0056
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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