MARK McLAUGHLIN FUNERAL:"JUST 21 and in the fullness of good health, far too young to die." These words marked the opening tributes at the funeral of Mark McLaughlin, the first of seven friends to be buried following Sunday night's crash.
Mourners filled Fahan’s small parish church, St Mura’s, the crowd spilling out the door while many more stood sheltered by black umbrellas from the drizzling rain outside the low stone walls surrounding the church.
Fr Neil McGoldrick said that the deaths of the young men and that of Hugh Friel (66) had sent a “shockwave” through the community.
“Someone described it as a tsunami rolling across Inishowen overwhelming us all,” Fr McGoldrick said, describing the initial anxiety and fear before the “terrible reality” struck for the affected families.
He extended his condolences to the chief mourners, Mark’s father John, mother Roma, his brother Damien and his wider family.
“Surely no words can adequately describe that harsh reality that left Mark’s family and so many other people feeling stunned and helpless. Eight deaths, seven young people all gone in an instant. How can this be? The sight here on Monday evening, the sight of hearse after hearse, cortege after cortege on the way down the road to Fahan, to Buncrana, to Clonmany is a sight that we’ll never forget, so deeply, deeply distressing,” said Fr McGoldrick.
“The pain of this gathering here will be repeated at seven other funerals, not to mention the old wounds that will be reopened as people remember past tragedies.”
He said that Mark had brought great brightness during his short life, describing him as a very good son and a close brother, the golden boy at McDaid’s quarry company where he worked. He was a “highly respected” young man who worked very hard, was dependable and anxious to learn.
“We all know him as a quiet man but with a quick sense of humour and quiet, yes, but a young man who enjoyed life and who enjoyed being out with his friends, many of them sadly casualties in this tragedy,” Fr McGoldrick said.
The priest conveyed the condolences of President Mary McAleese to the mourners. The President has sent similar messages to all those who died in the crash and is to write to each of the families involved in days to come.
Bishop of Derry Séamus Hegarty also passed his condolences to the families in a note being read out at each of the funerals; three yesterday, four today and one tomorrow.
At the conclusion of the Mass Mr McLaughlin’s work colleague Peggy Doherty read a poem spelling out the pride the young man took in his work and describing him as “genuine to the core”. As she said the final lines her voice broke and, on hearing her break down, a muffled sob spread through the congregation.
Mr McLaughlin was buried in the adjoining cemetery beside his uncle Pat, who died suddenly in February.