FATHER PAYS POIGNANT TRIBUTE TO ONLY SON
Father pays poignant tribute to only son
AS great an act of evil as the Omagh bombing was, it was not as great as the outpouring of love that had been shown since, the Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, Dr. Francis Lagan, told mourners at the funeral of Adrian Gallagher.
The friendly young man, who was known to his family and friends as 'Aidan', was laid to rest at his local church, St. Mary's, at Knockmoyle.
Hundreds gathered on Wednesday of last week to pay their last respects to 21-year-old Aidan, who, like others, had gone into Omagh to shop on that fateful day and had never come home.
His parents, Michael and Patricia, from Omagh's Circular Road, and his sisters, Sharon (25) and Cathy (20), led the mourning for the young man whose passion was cars.
Mr. Gallagher, who lost his brother to terrorists 14 years ago, read a tribute to his only son during the Requiem Mass.
"The horrible explosion on Saturday has blasted the life out of your body, killed 27 other people also, and shattered the bodies and minds of hundreds more," he said.
But he broke down at the words: "We are very frightened by what has happened, and we are broken-hearted that you are no longer to exist upon this earth."
As he returned to his seat in tears, Aidan's cousin, Gareth, sang the hymn, 'Be not Afraid'.
During the service, another cousin also prayed that the "terrible event" would make the community more determined to live together.
And she said: "I pray that never again will people use violence to further their cause."
Rev. Kevin Mullan told mourners that Aidan had been his parents' pride and joy.
But he said any future he had planned had been "blasted" from him.
"From the ruins of our town and the ruins of our hearts, let the world of the murderous past be gone," Fr. Mullan said.
Leading prayers for the dead and injured, he said: "Build our memories of Adrian and his poor pitiable companions into a future for us here until we join them, and slowly wipe away our tears."
Dr. Lagan, who had confirmed Aidan in the same church 10 years earlier, condemned the bombing as "something palpably evil that nothing can ever excuse, condone or talk away".
'Kindness'
"But however terrible its consequences it was not able to destroy the kindness shown by so many people," he said.
"If it was meant to destroy or divide this community it had the complete opposite effect.
"As great an act of evil as it was, it was not great as the outpouring of love since."
Dr. Lagan went on to say that good would always overcome evil, and the community now had a bond that could never be broken because of the heartache they had experienced together.
His sentiments were echoed by Rev. Ian Mairs, of Mountjoy Presbyterian Church, whose words of empathy for the family were greeted with a ripple of applause from those inside and the hundreds outside the small church.
Both he and the Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Cappagh Church, told mourners they pledged to pray for the community and for peace.
Mr. Quinn said: "Two days ago, a French reporter asked me if the bomb would bring the people of Omagh together.
"I told him we didn't need a bomb to bring us together, for we were were already together".
AS great an act of evil as the Omagh bombing was, it was not as great as the outpouring of love that had been shown since, the Auxiliary Bishop of Derry, Dr. Francis Lagan, told mourners at the funeral of Adrian Gallagher.
The friendly young man, who was known to his family and friends as 'Aidan', was laid to rest at his local church, St. Mary's, at Knockmoyle.
Hundreds gathered on Wednesday of last week to pay their last respects to 21-year-old Aidan, who, like others, had gone into Omagh to shop on that fateful day and had never come home.
His parents, Michael and Patricia, from Omagh's Circular Road, and his sisters, Sharon (25) and Cathy (20), led the mourning for the young man whose passion was cars.
Mr. Gallagher, who lost his brother to terrorists 14 years ago, read a tribute to his only son during the Requiem Mass.
"The horrible explosion on Saturday has blasted the life out of your body, killed 27 other people also, and shattered the bodies and minds of hundreds more," he said.
But he broke down at the words: "We are very frightened by what has happened, and we are broken-hearted that you are no longer to exist upon this earth."
As he returned to his seat in tears, Aidan's cousin, Gareth, sang the hymn, 'Be not Afraid'.
During the service, another cousin also prayed that the "terrible event" would make the community more determined to live together.
And she said: "I pray that never again will people use violence to further their cause."
Rev. Kevin Mullan told mourners that Aidan had been his parents' pride and joy.
But he said any future he had planned had been "blasted" from him.
"From the ruins of our town and the ruins of our hearts, let the world of the murderous past be gone," Fr. Mullan said.
Leading prayers for the dead and injured, he said: "Build our memories of Adrian and his poor pitiable companions into a future for us here until we join them, and slowly wipe away our tears."
Dr. Lagan, who had confirmed Aidan in the same church 10 years earlier, condemned the bombing as "something palpably evil that nothing can ever excuse, condone or talk away".
'Kindness'
"But however terrible its consequences it was not able to destroy the kindness shown by so many people," he said.
"If it was meant to destroy or divide this community it had the complete opposite effect.
"As great an act of evil as it was, it was not great as the outpouring of love since."
Dr. Lagan went on to say that good would always overcome evil, and the community now had a bond that could never be broken because of the heartache they had experienced together.
His sentiments were echoed by Rev. Ian Mairs, of Mountjoy Presbyterian Church, whose words of empathy for the family were greeted with a ripple of applause from those inside and the hundreds outside the small church.
Both he and the Rev. Derek Quinn, rector of Cappagh Church, told mourners they pledged to pray for the community and for peace.
Mr. Quinn said: "Two days ago, a French reporter asked me if the bomb would bring the people of Omagh together.
"I told him we didn't need a bomb to bring us together, for we were were already together".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0366
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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