BUNCRANA'S WAILS ECHOES ACROSS WORLD
Buncrana's wail echoes across world
By Seamus McKinney in Buncrana
AS THE bodies of James Barker, Oran Doherty and Sean McLaughlin were lowered to the ground at Buncrana, a heart wrenching keen arose from the thousands of mourners at St Mary's church.
Thousands upon thousands of people watched as the three pathetic coffins carried the shattered remains of James (12), Oran (8) and Sean (11) from their homes to the church at Cockhill.
They were joined by the great of Ireland. President Mary McAleese was there; so too was First Minister, David Trimble and his deputy, Seamus Mallon, uniting the country in grief.
Buncrana priest, Fr Shane Bradley - himself an Omagh man - said Ireland was a "land of dark shadow and of appalling pain."
It was an eerie place - lonely, desolate and full of inconsolable torment. It was a place no-one, absolutely no-one, should ever have to visit, he said.
The thousands watched as James Barker's mother, Donna Marie, placed her head on her dear son's coffin at the doors of St Mary's.
Not wanting to leave him, she walked behind with a hand on his coffin, lowly keening the passing of her innocent son with his cheeky smile.
Oran Doherty was only eight years old but his ambition was to see Celtic football club play at Park head.
Yesterday, as he could never go to Celtic, Celtic came to him. Mark Rieper, Danish international and Celtic star, was joined by former club chairman, Kevin Kelly and coach Willie McStay in Buncrana.
Manchester United was Sean McLaughlin's passion. Beside the three gaping holes in the earth at Cockhill graveyard lay wreaths bedecked in the red and white colours so beloved by the 12-year-old.
Sombre dark-suited men cried their eyes red as the three coffins were borne to St Mary's followed by people from all walks of life.
Children as young as Sean, Oran and James lined the way to the church. They were drawn from Ireland's two main traditions: Sean and Oran's classmates from Scoil Iosagan and James' friends from Foyle and Londonderry Prep stood to attention as their friends were carried on their last journey.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams walked with Martin McGuinness. The British and Spanish ambassadors were there.
In the church, they rubbed shoulders with people of every tradition and of none. The bloody futile deaths brought Ireland together in a way no politician ever did, in torment and pain.
"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," Fr Bradley told the mourners. But how to move on? Recalling the death of Lazarus, Fr Bradley suggested we do so in God.
Bishop of Derry, Seamus Hegarty spoke of the special anguish caused by the deaths of so many children.
"At this very moment Bishop Daly is in Dunamanna presiding at Requiem Mass for 21-month-old Breda Devine, who was killed. Breda's mother is critically ill in a Belfast hospital," he said.
Dr Hegarty paid special tribute to 20 of the Spanish visitors who chose to remain in grief in Buncrana.
"Despite this horrific experience, 20 of you have chosen to remain in Buncrana. You had a choice of going back to Madrid or remaining here.
"Thank you for the eloquent support and solidarity which you have shown by remaining in Buncrana," he said.
And calling for forgiveness, Bishop Hegarty prayed that those responsible for the bomb - those who constructed it, those who transported it and anyone else involved - convert to Christ's peace.
And as he articulated the pleas of Ireland to David Trimble and the new Assembly, Dr Hegarty was greeted with applause.
"May you, Mr Trimble, and your colleagues in the Assembly, have the wisdom and the courage you need to serve the interests of peace for all our people," he told the First Minister.
Before they left the church, a young colleague read a poem for peace composed by 11-year-old Sean.
Sean called for peace all over Ireland. He called for a "bridge of hope."
Two bishops and 24 priests led the funeral procession from St Mary's to the nearby cemetery, to the three graves, side-by-side.
Buncrana parish priest, Fr Joseph Carolan led James Barker's younger brother, Oliver Tristen - barely old enough to known what was happening -by the hand.
After prayers by the graveside, the moment came which every mother and father must fear; the moment when their beautiful children are lowered into the ground.
The poignancy of that moment will remain forever with everyone who was there.
As the three coffins were laid to rest, the loudspeakers picked up the wail - a cry heard throughout Ireland and the world.
Hair raising and frightening, it was the lament for the innocent.
By Seamus McKinney in Buncrana
AS THE bodies of James Barker, Oran Doherty and Sean McLaughlin were lowered to the ground at Buncrana, a heart wrenching keen arose from the thousands of mourners at St Mary's church.
Thousands upon thousands of people watched as the three pathetic coffins carried the shattered remains of James (12), Oran (8) and Sean (11) from their homes to the church at Cockhill.
They were joined by the great of Ireland. President Mary McAleese was there; so too was First Minister, David Trimble and his deputy, Seamus Mallon, uniting the country in grief.
Buncrana priest, Fr Shane Bradley - himself an Omagh man - said Ireland was a "land of dark shadow and of appalling pain."
It was an eerie place - lonely, desolate and full of inconsolable torment. It was a place no-one, absolutely no-one, should ever have to visit, he said.
The thousands watched as James Barker's mother, Donna Marie, placed her head on her dear son's coffin at the doors of St Mary's.
Not wanting to leave him, she walked behind with a hand on his coffin, lowly keening the passing of her innocent son with his cheeky smile.
Oran Doherty was only eight years old but his ambition was to see Celtic football club play at Park head.
Yesterday, as he could never go to Celtic, Celtic came to him. Mark Rieper, Danish international and Celtic star, was joined by former club chairman, Kevin Kelly and coach Willie McStay in Buncrana.
Manchester United was Sean McLaughlin's passion. Beside the three gaping holes in the earth at Cockhill graveyard lay wreaths bedecked in the red and white colours so beloved by the 12-year-old.
Sombre dark-suited men cried their eyes red as the three coffins were borne to St Mary's followed by people from all walks of life.
Children as young as Sean, Oran and James lined the way to the church. They were drawn from Ireland's two main traditions: Sean and Oran's classmates from Scoil Iosagan and James' friends from Foyle and Londonderry Prep stood to attention as their friends were carried on their last journey.
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams walked with Martin McGuinness. The British and Spanish ambassadors were there.
In the church, they rubbed shoulders with people of every tradition and of none. The bloody futile deaths brought Ireland together in a way no politician ever did, in torment and pain.
"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," Fr Bradley told the mourners. But how to move on? Recalling the death of Lazarus, Fr Bradley suggested we do so in God.
Bishop of Derry, Seamus Hegarty spoke of the special anguish caused by the deaths of so many children.
"At this very moment Bishop Daly is in Dunamanna presiding at Requiem Mass for 21-month-old Breda Devine, who was killed. Breda's mother is critically ill in a Belfast hospital," he said.
Dr Hegarty paid special tribute to 20 of the Spanish visitors who chose to remain in grief in Buncrana.
"Despite this horrific experience, 20 of you have chosen to remain in Buncrana. You had a choice of going back to Madrid or remaining here.
"Thank you for the eloquent support and solidarity which you have shown by remaining in Buncrana," he said.
And calling for forgiveness, Bishop Hegarty prayed that those responsible for the bomb - those who constructed it, those who transported it and anyone else involved - convert to Christ's peace.
And as he articulated the pleas of Ireland to David Trimble and the new Assembly, Dr Hegarty was greeted with applause.
"May you, Mr Trimble, and your colleagues in the Assembly, have the wisdom and the courage you need to serve the interests of peace for all our people," he told the First Minister.
Before they left the church, a young colleague read a poem for peace composed by 11-year-old Sean.
Sean called for peace all over Ireland. He called for a "bridge of hope."
Two bishops and 24 priests led the funeral procession from St Mary's to the nearby cemetery, to the three graves, side-by-side.
Buncrana parish priest, Fr Joseph Carolan led James Barker's younger brother, Oliver Tristen - barely old enough to known what was happening -by the hand.
After prayers by the graveside, the moment came which every mother and father must fear; the moment when their beautiful children are lowered into the ground.
The poignancy of that moment will remain forever with everyone who was there.
As the three coffins were laid to rest, the loudspeakers picked up the wail - a cry heard throughout Ireland and the world.
Hair raising and frightening, it was the lament for the innocent.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0103
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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