LOVING AND MUCH LOVED-KILLED BY EVIL
Loving and much loved - killed by evil
By Martin Anderson
in Omagh
SAMANTHA McFarland and her friend Lorraine Wilson had planned to travel the world together. Yesterday Samantha's brother said their dreams would be fulfilled "because the human soul has no boundaries".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the small Lislimnaghan Parish Church at Mountjoy on the outskirts of Omagh for the funeral of 17-year-old Samantha.
Dignitaries included First Minister David Trimble, Mary Coughlin, TD for Donegal South-west, the duke and duchess of Abercorn, and Willie Thompson, Ulster Unionist MP for west Tyrone.
The Reverend Derek Quinn, who had known Samantha for seven years since becoming the Parish rector, said their presence provided great comfort for the McFarland family.
Addressing the mourners, Samantha's brother Richard said: "We are gathered here together in sadness but we are also here to celebrate Sammy's life. Samantha never got to take her A levels or her driving test but she passed with ease the test of life.
"Goodness, compassion and her sensitivity towards people and animals, as was shown towards her cat, were the tests she passed.
"She enjoyed music, reading, poems and playing the piano and violin. Samantha also loved horses, a passion she shared with her father.
"Samantha had a great love of people of all religions and all ages. She was a very private person and also a very social person, a wonderful combination.
"Her dancing was widely admired. She touched so many people; she had a beautiful soul. Her special friend, Lorraine, and Samantha had a great affinity. She understood Lorraine completely.
"They spent many days and nights together going over plans for the future. They both wanted to achieve at school and they both wanted to travel. Samantha's desire was to travel the world and (she) told Mum every week she wanted to do it.
"She can now travel with Lorraine wherever she wants, because the human soul has no boundaries."
The Reverend Derek Quinn said: "Samantha was beautiful in every sense. Beautiful in looks and beautiful in character. Kind, considerate and loving. She was a girl who loved much and was much-loved in return as evidenced by the huge amount of people who have gathered at this church on this very miserable morning.
"That such a lovely girl should be taken from us at such a tender age is difficult to accept. That we should lose her as the result of a violent, wicked act by callous and depraved men is almost impossible to comprehend.
"Last Saturday, as the sun shone brightly, death stalked the streets of Omagh. At ten past three on that carnival afternoon, a car-bomb ripped the heart out of Omagh and broke our hearts in the process.
"For us, life can never ever be the same again as a direct result of that evil and monstrous act of savagery. Twenty-eight people who we knew and loved were killed and over 200 injured, some very seriously.
"To all the families who have lost loved ones we extend our sympathy, and our thoughts and our prayers are also of those who have been injured and maimed.
"I had the pleasure and the privilege of knowing Samantha for the past seven years since I became rector of this parish.
"She was a girl who cared passionately about the environment and who enjoyed art. literature and music. At school she was a popular and diligent student. Her friends at Strabane Grammar will miss her terribly at the beginning of the new school year.
"She was a girl of faith and a frequent attender at Sunday worship here in her parish church."
At the invitation of the Rev Quinn, Father Kevin Mullen, told mourners that the Catholic and Protestant communities had been united by the tragic events of last Saturday.
He said: "The Roman Catholic community is with you all here today. It does not need to be said, but let the formalities of history record our sympathy and compassion.
"We too condemn this dreadful evil. We weep with you, we believe with you, we pray with you. With you we thank God for Samantha."
As Samantha's coffin left the parish church to make the journey to Roselawn Crematorium there were scenes of uncontrollable grief as her classmates from Strabane Grammar formed a guard of honour.
Samantha leaves behind her father, Gerald, Mother, Doreen, and brothers Jonathan and Richard.
Her friend Lorraine Wilson (15) was buried on Wednesday at Cappagh Church.
By Martin Anderson
in Omagh
SAMANTHA McFarland and her friend Lorraine Wilson had planned to travel the world together. Yesterday Samantha's brother said their dreams would be fulfilled "because the human soul has no boundaries".
Hundreds of mourners gathered at the small Lislimnaghan Parish Church at Mountjoy on the outskirts of Omagh for the funeral of 17-year-old Samantha.
Dignitaries included First Minister David Trimble, Mary Coughlin, TD for Donegal South-west, the duke and duchess of Abercorn, and Willie Thompson, Ulster Unionist MP for west Tyrone.
The Reverend Derek Quinn, who had known Samantha for seven years since becoming the Parish rector, said their presence provided great comfort for the McFarland family.
Addressing the mourners, Samantha's brother Richard said: "We are gathered here together in sadness but we are also here to celebrate Sammy's life. Samantha never got to take her A levels or her driving test but she passed with ease the test of life.
"Goodness, compassion and her sensitivity towards people and animals, as was shown towards her cat, were the tests she passed.
"She enjoyed music, reading, poems and playing the piano and violin. Samantha also loved horses, a passion she shared with her father.
"Samantha had a great love of people of all religions and all ages. She was a very private person and also a very social person, a wonderful combination.
"Her dancing was widely admired. She touched so many people; she had a beautiful soul. Her special friend, Lorraine, and Samantha had a great affinity. She understood Lorraine completely.
"They spent many days and nights together going over plans for the future. They both wanted to achieve at school and they both wanted to travel. Samantha's desire was to travel the world and (she) told Mum every week she wanted to do it.
"She can now travel with Lorraine wherever she wants, because the human soul has no boundaries."
The Reverend Derek Quinn said: "Samantha was beautiful in every sense. Beautiful in looks and beautiful in character. Kind, considerate and loving. She was a girl who loved much and was much-loved in return as evidenced by the huge amount of people who have gathered at this church on this very miserable morning.
"That such a lovely girl should be taken from us at such a tender age is difficult to accept. That we should lose her as the result of a violent, wicked act by callous and depraved men is almost impossible to comprehend.
"Last Saturday, as the sun shone brightly, death stalked the streets of Omagh. At ten past three on that carnival afternoon, a car-bomb ripped the heart out of Omagh and broke our hearts in the process.
"For us, life can never ever be the same again as a direct result of that evil and monstrous act of savagery. Twenty-eight people who we knew and loved were killed and over 200 injured, some very seriously.
"To all the families who have lost loved ones we extend our sympathy, and our thoughts and our prayers are also of those who have been injured and maimed.
"I had the pleasure and the privilege of knowing Samantha for the past seven years since I became rector of this parish.
"She was a girl who cared passionately about the environment and who enjoyed art. literature and music. At school she was a popular and diligent student. Her friends at Strabane Grammar will miss her terribly at the beginning of the new school year.
"She was a girl of faith and a frequent attender at Sunday worship here in her parish church."
At the invitation of the Rev Quinn, Father Kevin Mullen, told mourners that the Catholic and Protestant communities had been united by the tragic events of last Saturday.
He said: "The Roman Catholic community is with you all here today. It does not need to be said, but let the formalities of history record our sympathy and compassion.
"We too condemn this dreadful evil. We weep with you, we believe with you, we pray with you. With you we thank God for Samantha."
As Samantha's coffin left the parish church to make the journey to Roselawn Crematorium there were scenes of uncontrollable grief as her classmates from Strabane Grammar formed a guard of honour.
Samantha leaves behind her father, Gerald, Mother, Doreen, and brothers Jonathan and Richard.
Her friend Lorraine Wilson (15) was buried on Wednesday at Cappagh Church.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0146
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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