SEA OF SORROW AT BUNCRANA'S TRIPLE FUNERAL SERVICE FOR YOUNG BOYS
Sea of sorrow at Buncrana's triple funeral service for young boys
THREE small coffins were carried into St Mary's Church, Corkhill, on Wednesday last for Buncrana's saddest requiem mass.
Three families, united in grief, were joined by thousands of mourners at the triple funeral service for James Barker (12), Sean McLaughlin (12), and Oran Doherty (eight).
The boys had been on the bus which left Buncrana, carrying over 40 Spanish children and teachers, as well as Donegal children from their host families, to visit Omagh for the day. It had been young Oran's first time away from home alone.
Tearful children lined the path to the church, forming a guard of honour for their friends' last journey. Pals of Oran and Sean from Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, where the Spanish children came to learn English, stood alongside James' classmates from Foyle and Londonderry College.
And the young Spaniard, Fernando Blasco Baselga, and his teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos, were remembered with floral tributes and prayers, which were offered in English, Irish and Spanish.
Parish priest, Rev. Joseph Carolan, told the congregation that he found it hard to speak about the atrocity.
"It is very difficult to talk about the occasion because the whole thing is so obscene, so disgusting, so annoying. It would draw a tear from a stone. It is very difficult to visit the homes without feeling very hurt," he said.
Omagh-born curate, Rev. Shane Bradley, said that, in the aftermath of the atrocity, Ireland was a "land of dark shadow and appalling pain."
But he offered words of comfort and hope to those in despair.
"This is not our eternal destiny. Christ is already setting about freeing us. Such is our faith. Such is our hope. What else is there? Who else but Christ can set us free from this strange and alien place?" he said.
Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, denounced the bombing as a "senseless and brutal atrocity."
"Pray for those who ordered the making of the bomb, for those who constructed it, for those who transported it, and for all who were in any way participants in preparing this infamous instrument of death and destruction," he urged the congregation.
Dr Hegarty thanked the 20 Spanish visitors who had chosen to remain in Buncrana until the Irish boys were buried.
He asked for their forgiveness, and prayed that those responsible for the bomb would repent.
"It is necessary that they do so, otherwise their eventual destination for eternity will not be where James, Oran, Shaun, Fernando and Rocia are today," he said.
Among the grieving congregation sat First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and his deputy, Mr Seamus Mallon. Irish President Mary McAleese, and Sinn Fein Assemblymen Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were also in attendance.
Dr Hegarty had a special message for Mr Trimble, saying that the Assembly presented the best and only way forward for Northern Ireland.
"It is the only alternative, there is no other. And we do not want ever, ever again to have a repeat of Saturday.
"So Mr Trimble, you are particularly welcome with your entourage. We wish you well and a fair wind in all your endeavours as you resume in the autumn," he said.
Dr Hegarty's words sparked applause from the congregation.
The funeral procession then left St Mary's, and moved towards the nearby cemetery, where three small graves waited side by side.
THREE small coffins were carried into St Mary's Church, Corkhill, on Wednesday last for Buncrana's saddest requiem mass.
Three families, united in grief, were joined by thousands of mourners at the triple funeral service for James Barker (12), Sean McLaughlin (12), and Oran Doherty (eight).
The boys had been on the bus which left Buncrana, carrying over 40 Spanish children and teachers, as well as Donegal children from their host families, to visit Omagh for the day. It had been young Oran's first time away from home alone.
Tearful children lined the path to the church, forming a guard of honour for their friends' last journey. Pals of Oran and Sean from Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana, where the Spanish children came to learn English, stood alongside James' classmates from Foyle and Londonderry College.
And the young Spaniard, Fernando Blasco Baselga, and his teacher, Rocia Abad Ramos, were remembered with floral tributes and prayers, which were offered in English, Irish and Spanish.
Parish priest, Rev. Joseph Carolan, told the congregation that he found it hard to speak about the atrocity.
"It is very difficult to talk about the occasion because the whole thing is so obscene, so disgusting, so annoying. It would draw a tear from a stone. It is very difficult to visit the homes without feeling very hurt," he said.
Omagh-born curate, Rev. Shane Bradley, said that, in the aftermath of the atrocity, Ireland was a "land of dark shadow and appalling pain."
But he offered words of comfort and hope to those in despair.
"This is not our eternal destiny. Christ is already setting about freeing us. Such is our faith. Such is our hope. What else is there? Who else but Christ can set us free from this strange and alien place?" he said.
Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, denounced the bombing as a "senseless and brutal atrocity."
"Pray for those who ordered the making of the bomb, for those who constructed it, for those who transported it, and for all who were in any way participants in preparing this infamous instrument of death and destruction," he urged the congregation.
Dr Hegarty thanked the 20 Spanish visitors who had chosen to remain in Buncrana until the Irish boys were buried.
He asked for their forgiveness, and prayed that those responsible for the bomb would repent.
"It is necessary that they do so, otherwise their eventual destination for eternity will not be where James, Oran, Shaun, Fernando and Rocia are today," he said.
Among the grieving congregation sat First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and his deputy, Mr Seamus Mallon. Irish President Mary McAleese, and Sinn Fein Assemblymen Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were also in attendance.
Dr Hegarty had a special message for Mr Trimble, saying that the Assembly presented the best and only way forward for Northern Ireland.
"It is the only alternative, there is no other. And we do not want ever, ever again to have a repeat of Saturday.
"So Mr Trimble, you are particularly welcome with your entourage. We wish you well and a fair wind in all your endeavours as you resume in the autumn," he said.
Dr Hegarty's words sparked applause from the congregation.
The funeral procession then left St Mary's, and moved towards the nearby cemetery, where three small graves waited side by side.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0376
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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