DRUMQUIN FAMILY TO HAVE DAILY REMINDER OF MUCH LOVED WIFE AND MOTHER
Drumquin family to have daily reminder of much loved wife and mother
THE Skelton family will have a daily, poignant, reminder of a dear wife, and mother, for Mrs. Philomena Skelton, murdered by a terrorists' car bomb attack on Omagh, was buried in the cemetery overlooked by the family home at McCrea Park, Dooish, Drumquin.
Mena Skelton was laid to rest there following a service in the nearby St. Patrick's Church, Langfield, attended by as many as 1,000 people, including players from Drumquin Wolfe Tone's Gaelic Football Club, which provided a guard of honour.
Her husband, Kevin, is a GAA referee, and fixture secretary for Tyrone's hurlers.
Also among the mourners was her daughter, Shauna, injured by the bomb which killed the 39-year-old mother of four, who was allowed out of Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry for the Requiem Mass.
The family's youngest child is recovering from a broken jaw, and is expected to undergo plastic surgery to repair a gaping neck wound caused by flying shrapnel.
She returned to hospital on Wednesday evening last, shortly after her mother's funeral service and interment.
The service was conducted by parish priest Rev. Robert Devine, and was addressed by the Auxiliary Bishop of Deny, Dr. Francis Lagan.
He told the mourners, who packed the church and who stood outside, or sat on chairs ringing the modern building, the Skelton family had suffered a tragic loss.
"The dreadful atrocity committed in Omagh has affected not only individual families, but the whole community and, indeed, the entire country. We all feel threatened, and we are all grieving and mourning," added Dr. Lagan.
And he said countless words had been written and spoken about the awful events of the previous Saturday, in an attempt to recapture the horror and barbarity of the act, and the terrible consequences which emanated from it.
"But, when all the words are forgotten, two realities will remain forever," he went on.
"What happened in Market Street was something that was palpable evil to plant a bomb in a crowded street was a sinful act that nothing can ever condone, excuse, or allow to be talked away.
"But, if the sense of evil was palpable, even more palpable was the outpouring of love and caring. What we will remember most is the way in which people from all walks of life responded to this human tragedy.
"Good will always overcome evil. Philomena's death must not be in vain."
Dr. Lagan urged the congregation to help people through their suffering, and to continue to work for peace.
Mrs. Skelton is survived, by her husband, Kevin, daughters, Paula, 18, Tracy, 15, and Shauna, 13, 16-year-old son, Ray, her mother, Mrs. Mary Logue, of Tubrid, Kesh, sisters, Teresa, Rosaleen and Caroline, and brothers, Michael, John, Gerard, and P.J.
THE Skelton family will have a daily, poignant, reminder of a dear wife, and mother, for Mrs. Philomena Skelton, murdered by a terrorists' car bomb attack on Omagh, was buried in the cemetery overlooked by the family home at McCrea Park, Dooish, Drumquin.
Mena Skelton was laid to rest there following a service in the nearby St. Patrick's Church, Langfield, attended by as many as 1,000 people, including players from Drumquin Wolfe Tone's Gaelic Football Club, which provided a guard of honour.
Her husband, Kevin, is a GAA referee, and fixture secretary for Tyrone's hurlers.
Also among the mourners was her daughter, Shauna, injured by the bomb which killed the 39-year-old mother of four, who was allowed out of Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry for the Requiem Mass.
The family's youngest child is recovering from a broken jaw, and is expected to undergo plastic surgery to repair a gaping neck wound caused by flying shrapnel.
She returned to hospital on Wednesday evening last, shortly after her mother's funeral service and interment.
The service was conducted by parish priest Rev. Robert Devine, and was addressed by the Auxiliary Bishop of Deny, Dr. Francis Lagan.
He told the mourners, who packed the church and who stood outside, or sat on chairs ringing the modern building, the Skelton family had suffered a tragic loss.
"The dreadful atrocity committed in Omagh has affected not only individual families, but the whole community and, indeed, the entire country. We all feel threatened, and we are all grieving and mourning," added Dr. Lagan.
And he said countless words had been written and spoken about the awful events of the previous Saturday, in an attempt to recapture the horror and barbarity of the act, and the terrible consequences which emanated from it.
"But, when all the words are forgotten, two realities will remain forever," he went on.
"What happened in Market Street was something that was palpable evil to plant a bomb in a crowded street was a sinful act that nothing can ever condone, excuse, or allow to be talked away.
"But, if the sense of evil was palpable, even more palpable was the outpouring of love and caring. What we will remember most is the way in which people from all walks of life responded to this human tragedy.
"Good will always overcome evil. Philomena's death must not be in vain."
Dr. Lagan urged the congregation to help people through their suffering, and to continue to work for peace.
Mrs. Skelton is survived, by her husband, Kevin, daughters, Paula, 18, Tracy, 15, and Shauna, 13, 16-year-old son, Ray, her mother, Mrs. Mary Logue, of Tubrid, Kesh, sisters, Teresa, Rosaleen and Caroline, and brothers, Michael, John, Gerard, and P.J.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0735
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
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