MINISTER CRIES AS HE GIVES FUNERAL HOMILY
Minister cries as he gives funeral homily
By Michael O'Toole
THE president of the Methodist church broke down in tears yesterday as he struggled to give a grieving family some reason for the Omagh massacre - and the loss of their beloved daughter.
Speaking at the funeral service for Julia Hughes in Omagh Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr said: "There is absolutely no answer on this side of eternity."
Julie (21) was home for the summer from Dundee University and was working in a camera shop in the town when she died in Saturday's blast.
Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of people packed into the church to say goodbye to the popular student - a few hundred yards from the site of the explosion which cost her life.
Among the mourners were Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, SDLP Omagh assemblyman Joe Byrne and the Lord Lieutenant for Co Tyrone, the Duke of Abercorn.
Several of Julia's student colleagues and tutors travelled from Scotland for the service.
Former SDLP leader Lord Fitt, whose late wife Anne was from Omagh, also attended the service.
The Rev Kerr earlier told mourners that Ms Hughes's family wished to express their sympathy to all the other victims of the Omagh outrage.
He told the grief-stricken family: "I know that you have found comfort and consolation from your own friends and neighbours and from the many friends of Julia's who have visited you since Sunday.
"You have also found a fellowship of suffering that embraces this whole town and you have asked me to express on your behalf your love and your sympathies with all those who have been bereaved and injured."
But he was unable to hold back his tears when he spoke from the pulpit to Ms Hughes's father, Alec.
He said: "Alec, you have asked the question 'why?' and to that question there is absolutely no answer on this side of eternity.
"When I called at your house on Sunday it was to discover that you and I had met in the days of our youth when faith was easy and life untroubled.
"We have met again as two fathers struggling to make sense of the madness and evil of this world.
"One, as he tries to come to terms with the death of one of his daughters.
"The other, as a minister of religion trying to bring comfort and to struggle with the question: where is the loving God in the midst of so much suffering?"
The family's minister, Peter Good, flew back from America early yesterday - where he is on an exchange visit - to officiate at the burial of Ms Hughes's remains in Belfast's Roselawn cemetery later in the afternoon.
By Michael O'Toole
THE president of the Methodist church broke down in tears yesterday as he struggled to give a grieving family some reason for the Omagh massacre - and the loss of their beloved daughter.
Speaking at the funeral service for Julia Hughes in Omagh Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr said: "There is absolutely no answer on this side of eternity."
Julie (21) was home for the summer from Dundee University and was working in a camera shop in the town when she died in Saturday's blast.
Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of people packed into the church to say goodbye to the popular student - a few hundred yards from the site of the explosion which cost her life.
Among the mourners were Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, SDLP Omagh assemblyman Joe Byrne and the Lord Lieutenant for Co Tyrone, the Duke of Abercorn.
Several of Julia's student colleagues and tutors travelled from Scotland for the service.
Former SDLP leader Lord Fitt, whose late wife Anne was from Omagh, also attended the service.
The Rev Kerr earlier told mourners that Ms Hughes's family wished to express their sympathy to all the other victims of the Omagh outrage.
He told the grief-stricken family: "I know that you have found comfort and consolation from your own friends and neighbours and from the many friends of Julia's who have visited you since Sunday.
"You have also found a fellowship of suffering that embraces this whole town and you have asked me to express on your behalf your love and your sympathies with all those who have been bereaved and injured."
But he was unable to hold back his tears when he spoke from the pulpit to Ms Hughes's father, Alec.
He said: "Alec, you have asked the question 'why?' and to that question there is absolutely no answer on this side of eternity.
"When I called at your house on Sunday it was to discover that you and I had met in the days of our youth when faith was easy and life untroubled.
"We have met again as two fathers struggling to make sense of the madness and evil of this world.
"One, as he tries to come to terms with the death of one of his daughters.
"The other, as a minister of religion trying to bring comfort and to struggle with the question: where is the loving God in the midst of so much suffering?"
The family's minister, Peter Good, flew back from America early yesterday - where he is on an exchange visit - to officiate at the burial of Ms Hughes's remains in Belfast's Roselawn cemetery later in the afternoon.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0147
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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