HUNDREDS MOURN WOMAN WHO LIVED FOR HER FAMILY
Hundreds mourn woman who lived for her family
By Rosie Uffindell
AN ENTIRE community came out to mourn a wife, mother and friend at St Patrick's Church, Longfield, Drumquin.
Hundreds of people walked the 200 yards from Philomena Skelton's home to the church to pay their final respects.
And players from Drumquin Wolfe Tone's Gaelic football team gave her a guard of honour.
Husband Kevin and their children Tracy, Paula, Ray and Shauna led the mourners as they remembered the woman who lived for her family.
All of them bore the mental scars of Saturday's tragedy and 13-year-old Shauna, still recovering from a broken jaw bore the physical too.
The mourners heard prayers for the family, the community for those who planted the bomb and for peace.
Bishop of Derry Dr Francis Lagan said the Skelton Family had suffered the tragic loss of a wife and mother.
"The dreadful atrocity committed in Omagh last Saturday has affected not only individual families but the whole community and indeed the entire country.
"We all feel threatened and we are all grieving and mourning.
"Countless words have been written and spoken about what has happened in the past few days, trying to capture the horror of the barbaric act and the terrible consequences that flowed from it.
"But when all the words are forgotten two realities will remain forever.
"What happened In Market Street was something that was palpable evil - to plant a bomb in a crowded street was a sinful evil act that nothing can ever condone, excuse or allow to be talked away.
"But if the sense of evil was palpable, even more palpable was the outpouring of love and caring.
"What we will remember most is the way in which people from all walks of life responded to this human tragedy.
"Good will always overcome evil.
Philomena's death must not be in vain."
And he called on the congregation to help people through their suffering and to continue to work for peace.
The church couldn't hold all those who wanted to pay their respects to Philomena.
Many stood outside and strained to hear the words of the priest.
But above the wind and the rain, the voices of local schoolchildren singing the words of St Francis of Assisi's prayer could still be heard - 'Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace'.
The cortege then made its way to Philomena's final resting place, just yards from the home she loved.
By Rosie Uffindell
AN ENTIRE community came out to mourn a wife, mother and friend at St Patrick's Church, Longfield, Drumquin.
Hundreds of people walked the 200 yards from Philomena Skelton's home to the church to pay their final respects.
And players from Drumquin Wolfe Tone's Gaelic football team gave her a guard of honour.
Husband Kevin and their children Tracy, Paula, Ray and Shauna led the mourners as they remembered the woman who lived for her family.
All of them bore the mental scars of Saturday's tragedy and 13-year-old Shauna, still recovering from a broken jaw bore the physical too.
The mourners heard prayers for the family, the community for those who planted the bomb and for peace.
Bishop of Derry Dr Francis Lagan said the Skelton Family had suffered the tragic loss of a wife and mother.
"The dreadful atrocity committed in Omagh last Saturday has affected not only individual families but the whole community and indeed the entire country.
"We all feel threatened and we are all grieving and mourning.
"Countless words have been written and spoken about what has happened in the past few days, trying to capture the horror of the barbaric act and the terrible consequences that flowed from it.
"But when all the words are forgotten two realities will remain forever.
"What happened In Market Street was something that was palpable evil - to plant a bomb in a crowded street was a sinful evil act that nothing can ever condone, excuse or allow to be talked away.
"But if the sense of evil was palpable, even more palpable was the outpouring of love and caring.
"What we will remember most is the way in which people from all walks of life responded to this human tragedy.
"Good will always overcome evil.
Philomena's death must not be in vain."
And he called on the congregation to help people through their suffering and to continue to work for peace.
The church couldn't hold all those who wanted to pay their respects to Philomena.
Many stood outside and strained to hear the words of the priest.
But above the wind and the rain, the voices of local schoolchildren singing the words of St Francis of Assisi's prayer could still be heard - 'Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace'.
The cortege then made its way to Philomena's final resting place, just yards from the home she loved.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0106
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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