FUNERAL HEARS THAT VICTIM WILL LIVE IN FAMILY'S HEART
Funeral hears that victim will live in family's hearts
By Jonathan Turner
in Omagh
DEBRA Ann Cartwright will always live on in the hearts of her family, her funeral service heard yesterday.
The 20-year-old died on Saturday without knowing she had gained the A-level results she needed to enter Manchester Metropolitan University.
In a moving tribute to Debi read at yesterday's service in Omagh's St Columbas Church, her family described her as a "lovely, bubbly, beautiful girl".
"The sun shone out of her smile giving warmth to everyone," it read.
"We loved her, we lost her, but she will always live on in our hearts."
Reverend Ruth Adams, who delivered the sermon to a packed church, said the policeman's daughter was a girl full of "life, energy and talent". She added the Cartwright family's thoughts were also with the other bereaved and injured.
Rev Adams said they had taken hope from the "love and support" expressed by others.
"May Christ be a light in this time of darkness," she added.
Earlier Debi's brother, Stephen had read a short poem she had sent to her boyfriend Malcolm.
Emerging into slanting rain outside, the cortege passed the church where the funeral of another of Saturday's victims, Geraldine Breslin, was still taking place.
As the hearse passed by the utter silence was broken only by the haunting sound of a soloist singing at Mrs Breslin's service.
Hundreds followed the cortege, and as they passed other mourners at Mrs Breslin's funeral turned to pay their respects.
Debi's boyfriend and her brother followed immediately behind the hearse with the rest of her family behind them.
Among the many wreaths was one in simple white flowers spelling out the name everyone knew her by: "Debi".
Around the corner the hearse passed Omagh courthouse, the bomber's purported target on Saturday.
From there the sight of the explosion could not be seen - the bomb had been so far away.
By Jonathan Turner
in Omagh
DEBRA Ann Cartwright will always live on in the hearts of her family, her funeral service heard yesterday.
The 20-year-old died on Saturday without knowing she had gained the A-level results she needed to enter Manchester Metropolitan University.
In a moving tribute to Debi read at yesterday's service in Omagh's St Columbas Church, her family described her as a "lovely, bubbly, beautiful girl".
"The sun shone out of her smile giving warmth to everyone," it read.
"We loved her, we lost her, but she will always live on in our hearts."
Reverend Ruth Adams, who delivered the sermon to a packed church, said the policeman's daughter was a girl full of "life, energy and talent". She added the Cartwright family's thoughts were also with the other bereaved and injured.
Rev Adams said they had taken hope from the "love and support" expressed by others.
"May Christ be a light in this time of darkness," she added.
Earlier Debi's brother, Stephen had read a short poem she had sent to her boyfriend Malcolm.
Emerging into slanting rain outside, the cortege passed the church where the funeral of another of Saturday's victims, Geraldine Breslin, was still taking place.
As the hearse passed by the utter silence was broken only by the haunting sound of a soloist singing at Mrs Breslin's service.
Hundreds followed the cortege, and as they passed other mourners at Mrs Breslin's funeral turned to pay their respects.
Debi's boyfriend and her brother followed immediately behind the hearse with the rest of her family behind them.
Among the many wreaths was one in simple white flowers spelling out the name everyone knew her by: "Debi".
Around the corner the hearse passed Omagh courthouse, the bomber's purported target on Saturday.
From there the sight of the explosion could not be seen - the bomb had been so far away.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0141
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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