TRAGEDY BRINGS TWO FRIENDS TOGETHER
Tragedy brings two old friends together
By Seamus McKinney
THE OMAGH bomb tragedy brought two old friends together for only the second time in years after they were forced to part amid sectarian controversy in 1985.
Catholic priest, Fr Kevin Mullan, then based in Limavady, invited the town's Presbyterian minister, the Rev David Armstrong to wish his congregation a happy Christmas.
In return, Fr Mullan wished Presbyterians in Limavady the compliments of the season at their Christmas morning service.
While the gesture was seen by many as a seasonal show of cross-community friendship, some members of the Rev Armstong's church objected to his participation in a Catholic service.
The Presbyterian clergyman was eventually forced to leave the Co Derry town with his wife and family.
He subsequently moved to England where he became a minister of the Church of England in Cambridge.
While he retained contact with Fr Mullan, who moved to Omagh, he had not met the Catholic curate in many years.
But when the English cleric saw his old friend on television in the midst of the Omagh bomb tragedy, he felt he had to travel to Ireland to comfort Fr Mullan.
Rev Armstrong arrived in Omagh on Tuesday of this week and spent two days with Fr Mullan before returning home on Wednesday evening.
He told local journalists he felt he had to come and see Fr Mullan when he saw him on television.
"I wanted to let him know that there are people who do care for him," Rev Armstrong said.
This week's visit was only the second time in 13 years that the two clergymen have met. Two years ago, Fr Mullan and Rev Armstrong participated in a BBC documentary.
"At least I know that Kevin is coping well in the terrible straits of this tragedy and that is of great comfort and strength to me," Rev Armstrong told Omagh's Ulster Herald newspaper.
Fr Mullan said the visit was a great source of comfort coming when it did. He said Rev Armstrong had been through a lot with him.
By Seamus McKinney
THE OMAGH bomb tragedy brought two old friends together for only the second time in years after they were forced to part amid sectarian controversy in 1985.
Catholic priest, Fr Kevin Mullan, then based in Limavady, invited the town's Presbyterian minister, the Rev David Armstrong to wish his congregation a happy Christmas.
In return, Fr Mullan wished Presbyterians in Limavady the compliments of the season at their Christmas morning service.
While the gesture was seen by many as a seasonal show of cross-community friendship, some members of the Rev Armstong's church objected to his participation in a Catholic service.
The Presbyterian clergyman was eventually forced to leave the Co Derry town with his wife and family.
He subsequently moved to England where he became a minister of the Church of England in Cambridge.
While he retained contact with Fr Mullan, who moved to Omagh, he had not met the Catholic curate in many years.
But when the English cleric saw his old friend on television in the midst of the Omagh bomb tragedy, he felt he had to travel to Ireland to comfort Fr Mullan.
Rev Armstrong arrived in Omagh on Tuesday of this week and spent two days with Fr Mullan before returning home on Wednesday evening.
He told local journalists he felt he had to come and see Fr Mullan when he saw him on television.
"I wanted to let him know that there are people who do care for him," Rev Armstrong said.
This week's visit was only the second time in 13 years that the two clergymen have met. Two years ago, Fr Mullan and Rev Armstrong participated in a BBC documentary.
"At least I know that Kevin is coping well in the terrible straits of this tragedy and that is of great comfort and strength to me," Rev Armstrong told Omagh's Ulster Herald newspaper.
Fr Mullan said the visit was a great source of comfort coming when it did. He said Rev Armstrong had been through a lot with him.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0362
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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