TEENAGE CHARITY WORKER FRIENDS IN LIFE WHO DIED SIDE BY SIDE
Teenage charity worker friends in life who died side by side
Two teenage friends, who were working as volunteers in the Oxfam shop at Omagh's High Street, were among the fatalities.
Seventeen-year-old Samantha McFarland and her best friend, Lorraine Wilson (15) were evacuated from the shop into the path of the bomb.
Samantha, of 7 Clements Villas. Hospital Road. Omagh was the McFarland. She was the youngest of a family of three and had two
older brothers, Richard and Jonathan.
The teenager was to be bridesmaid next month at the wedding of her brother, Jonathan, to Gillian Hetherington, on Friday, September 11.
Her friend, Lorraine, was the daughter of Godfrey and Ann Wilson, Camowen Bungalows, Omagh, and was the third eldest in a family of four. She had one sister, Denise (21), and two brothers, Gary (20) and Colin (10).
Samantha's brother, Jonathan, commended his sister's diligence, explaining that he saw her just before the explosion.
He said she was reluctant to leave the area as she had the keys for the Oxfam shop, and felt responsible for the premises.
He went on to say that she was a keen writer, and explained that a quote she had once written ironically described how the family had felt on Saturday. It was: "Whenever you wish and want for so much, sometimes you come away with nothing."
He added that one of her favourite quotes was "If you love someone so much, you set them free and they will come back".
Mrs. Mabel Kennedy, volunteer manager, at the Oxfam shop, described the pair as "great wee girls".
Real shock
"They were very friendly to customers and responsible workers. It was a real shock," said Mrs. Kennedy, who is also a member of St. John Ambulance, and heard about the deaths while working in her capacity as first-aider with the organisation at Omagh Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
Mrs. Kennedy said that Samantha had started working in the charity shop at the beginning of the summer holidays.
"She came into the shop and asked could she do some voluntary work. Samantha worked mainly on Saturdays Her friend, Lorraine, came in to work with her the last few Saturdays. Lorraine had been working in the shop for about a month," she said.
Samantha was also a volunteer in the Barnardos shop in the town. She had been volunteering there one day a week for the last six weeks.
A spokesman for Barnardo's extended sympathy to her family.
"Samantha's caring attitude for other people is in stark contrast to the people who took her life," said the spokesman.
Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Lislimnaghan and Cappagh, paid tribute to the teenagers, who he described as pleasant girls who had everything to live for.
He said that Samantha was a member of the congregation at Lislimnaghan, while Lorraine was a member of the Cappagh congregation.
"They were lovely girls, attractive and pleasant and were so full of life with hopes for the future. They were friends in life and died side by side," he said.
"It is hard to believe something like this could happen in Omagh," said Mr. Quinn.
Bright future
"They were young girls with a bright future which is now gone. They worked a volunteers to help people less fortunate than they were and died as a result of the good work they did," he said.
Paying a moving tribute to the girls, Mr. Bill Harper, principal of Omagh High School, described them as "model pupils".
"They were outstanding girls and had exemplary school records. They were pupils to be proud of," he said.
He said that Samantha left the school in June last year to go on to study for A levels at Strabane Grammar School, while Lorraine had just completed year-11 and was to take her GCSE examinations next summer.
"As I was looking through old school records I found a card Samantha had sent me after she left the school. It was a thank-you to me and the staff. It broke my heart just to read it again," he said.
Mr. Harper said she had been active in collecting for various charities, including the Royal National Institute for the Blind, cancer charities, and the James Bulger Memorial Fund.
"She was a prominent sports person and was a school prefect. She always showed a great interest in those less fortunate than herself," he said.
Like her friend, Lorraine also was active in collecting for various charities.
"She had an exceptional school attendance record, and was interested in sports, including hockey and net ball. She also took part in line-dancing at the school," said Mr. Harper.
"Lorraine was a lively, interesting young girl," he said.
He went on to say that the school had lost some exceptional young people - both past and present pupils- as a result of Saturday's bomb.
A number of past pupils including Deborah Anne Cartwright (20) and Esther Gibson (36), died as a result of the weekend atrocity, as did Alan Radford (16), who was to receive his GCSE results this week.
"Indeed there were other pupils who were injured and who helped sift through the rubble. We, at the school, are very proud of them," he said.
"In the coming weeks, and, indeed, when school resumes after the holidays, the staff will try to support them," said Mr. Harper, who explained that the school library had been opened for pupils, friends and past pupils who wished to share their grief. This facility will be available until the school opens again in September.
Two teenage friends, who were working as volunteers in the Oxfam shop at Omagh's High Street, were among the fatalities.
Seventeen-year-old Samantha McFarland and her best friend, Lorraine Wilson (15) were evacuated from the shop into the path of the bomb.
Samantha, of 7 Clements Villas. Hospital Road. Omagh was the McFarland. She was the youngest of a family of three and had two
older brothers, Richard and Jonathan.
The teenager was to be bridesmaid next month at the wedding of her brother, Jonathan, to Gillian Hetherington, on Friday, September 11.
Her friend, Lorraine, was the daughter of Godfrey and Ann Wilson, Camowen Bungalows, Omagh, and was the third eldest in a family of four. She had one sister, Denise (21), and two brothers, Gary (20) and Colin (10).
Samantha's brother, Jonathan, commended his sister's diligence, explaining that he saw her just before the explosion.
He said she was reluctant to leave the area as she had the keys for the Oxfam shop, and felt responsible for the premises.
He went on to say that she was a keen writer, and explained that a quote she had once written ironically described how the family had felt on Saturday. It was: "Whenever you wish and want for so much, sometimes you come away with nothing."
He added that one of her favourite quotes was "If you love someone so much, you set them free and they will come back".
Mrs. Mabel Kennedy, volunteer manager, at the Oxfam shop, described the pair as "great wee girls".
Real shock
"They were very friendly to customers and responsible workers. It was a real shock," said Mrs. Kennedy, who is also a member of St. John Ambulance, and heard about the deaths while working in her capacity as first-aider with the organisation at Omagh Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
Mrs. Kennedy said that Samantha had started working in the charity shop at the beginning of the summer holidays.
"She came into the shop and asked could she do some voluntary work. Samantha worked mainly on Saturdays Her friend, Lorraine, came in to work with her the last few Saturdays. Lorraine had been working in the shop for about a month," she said.
Samantha was also a volunteer in the Barnardos shop in the town. She had been volunteering there one day a week for the last six weeks.
A spokesman for Barnardo's extended sympathy to her family.
"Samantha's caring attitude for other people is in stark contrast to the people who took her life," said the spokesman.
Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Lislimnaghan and Cappagh, paid tribute to the teenagers, who he described as pleasant girls who had everything to live for.
He said that Samantha was a member of the congregation at Lislimnaghan, while Lorraine was a member of the Cappagh congregation.
"They were lovely girls, attractive and pleasant and were so full of life with hopes for the future. They were friends in life and died side by side," he said.
"It is hard to believe something like this could happen in Omagh," said Mr. Quinn.
Bright future
"They were young girls with a bright future which is now gone. They worked a volunteers to help people less fortunate than they were and died as a result of the good work they did," he said.
Paying a moving tribute to the girls, Mr. Bill Harper, principal of Omagh High School, described them as "model pupils".
"They were outstanding girls and had exemplary school records. They were pupils to be proud of," he said.
He said that Samantha left the school in June last year to go on to study for A levels at Strabane Grammar School, while Lorraine had just completed year-11 and was to take her GCSE examinations next summer.
"As I was looking through old school records I found a card Samantha had sent me after she left the school. It was a thank-you to me and the staff. It broke my heart just to read it again," he said.
Mr. Harper said she had been active in collecting for various charities, including the Royal National Institute for the Blind, cancer charities, and the James Bulger Memorial Fund.
"She was a prominent sports person and was a school prefect. She always showed a great interest in those less fortunate than herself," he said.
Like her friend, Lorraine also was active in collecting for various charities.
"She had an exceptional school attendance record, and was interested in sports, including hockey and net ball. She also took part in line-dancing at the school," said Mr. Harper.
"Lorraine was a lively, interesting young girl," he said.
He went on to say that the school had lost some exceptional young people - both past and present pupils- as a result of Saturday's bomb.
A number of past pupils including Deborah Anne Cartwright (20) and Esther Gibson (36), died as a result of the weekend atrocity, as did Alan Radford (16), who was to receive his GCSE results this week.
"Indeed there were other pupils who were injured and who helped sift through the rubble. We, at the school, are very proud of them," he said.
"In the coming weeks, and, indeed, when school resumes after the holidays, the staff will try to support them," said Mr. Harper, who explained that the school library had been opened for pupils, friends and past pupils who wished to share their grief. This facility will be available until the school opens again in September.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0044
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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