Bishop Router condemns vicious murder
services, maybe offering some solace for a family who have suffered ‘ the most horrific week.’
The service was a true community one, prayers and words of ‘shalom’ from the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal and others stating, ‘act together to end violence.’
There were words of comfort too for An Garda Siochana, who ‘risk their lives daily’ to protect communities.
It was said that drugs can be a ‘difficult conversation’ but ‘silence’ was impacting greatly on communities.
At one stage, all those in the church was invited to walk forward and light a candle of hope and they did, babes in arms, brothers, sisters, mums, dads and grandparents.
A stream of light suddenly erupted from the front of the altar as the symbolism took hold.
This was an hour to reflect and to escape, to find some peace, especially for the family of Keane Mulready-Woods, some of whom attended.
This church has already buried one person who died in the feud and when the time comes, Fr Phil Gaffney will also bury a 17-year old boy.
You can sense that this community wants those involved in these crimes to end the hostilities - no matter how they sort it - and give peace back to the noble people who dream of a better future for their children.
BISHOP Michael Router, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh, has said ‘enough is enough’ in calling for an end to the violence that has shocked Drogheda.
‘ The reprehensible sub-culture in our society which views all human life as expendable, including the lives of children, must be defeated. Such gangs are grooming children and we need now to take back control so that such vulnerable children can be cherished, not exploited.
‘ I earnestly hope that all the community-based organisations who fight against the scourge of drug abuse in our country will receive the resources that they need to be effective. This issue needs to be seriously addressed in all communities during the current general election campaign as well as being a genuine priority for the next government,’ he stated.
He said the murder of Keane Mulready Woods was particularly horrific.
‘All human life is sacred and an attack of this nature on someone who is still a child is disgusting and beyond belief. To murder another human being in such a way is to totally disregard the basic tenets of our Christian faith and is, indeed, an attack on God in whose image we are all made. This desecration of life has diminished our common humanity and our sense of ourselves as a civilised people.
‘ There are people living amongst us with blood on their hands, and we all have a responsibility to assist the Gardaí to apprehend, not just the perpetrators of this evil, but the gang leaders who orchestrated it,’ he stated.
‘By way of prayer and action we all have a role to play in maintaining the common good. I reiterate my offer to liaise between those who are feuding. From the bottom of my heart, I ask individuals and communities to stand together and cooperate with Gardaí in every way possible to help permanently bring to an end this cycle of bloody violence in our community.’