Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Tears for Cookstown
School pals among mourners saying farewell to Morgan, Lauren & Connor
IT was a sight no one should have to witness – three church yards streaming with heartbroken youngsters as they said farewell to cherished friends.
Hundreds gathered yesterday for the funerals of Morgan Barnard, Lauren Bullock and Connor Currie.
The three teenagers died on St Patrick’s Night in a crush outside a disco at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
Awash with grief, their pals helped in the only way they could, offering an outpouring of love.
There were no words that could heal, no sentiments to ease the pain. Just the honouring of the living and the dead with honest, brutal emotion.
Morgan, 17, was the first to be buried as mourners gathered at St Patrick’s Church in Dungannon for a service led by Fr Aidan Mccann.
Archbishop Eamon Martin told the congregation: “All that really matters and makes a difference is love and friendship and compassion. And only faith can dare to speak into the darkness of these days to offer a glimmer of light and hope in this valley of tears.
“We’ve been circling each other around with love and faith and kindness and compassion. The shocking events of Sunday last have reminded us that life is very fragile.
“We need to cherish every moment and always look out for each other and keep each other safe.”
Fr Mccann added: “To say Morgan was well-liked would be an understatement. He was a vivacious, charismatic and energetic young man who nobody had a bad word to say about. Morgan was a person of character who had a great sense of humour with an abundance of wit, always a smile on his face.
“You could never pass him in the corridor in school or anywhere else without getting a warm look or a quick joke. He had a strong personality and didn’t care too much about the opinion of others, revealed in his various hair styles and his flamboyant choice of shirts.
“He was constantly breaking his glasses, his mother having to buy him new school shoes as he wore them out playing football. He was also a humble young man who would always listen and be there for somebody if they needed him.
“A new baby expected this year will know his or her brother by the stories of love they will hear about him.”
Morgan is survived by parents Maria and Jimmy and siblings Calvin, Robyn, Regan and Elyssa.
The pain continued into the second funeral service at St Patrick’s Church in Donaghmore, where the life of Lauren Bullock was celebrated.
Fr David Moore told those gathered the 17-year-old had lived too short a time on earth but had achieved a lot.
He said: “St Patrick’s Day 2019 will be called to mind as the awful day when three beautiful young people were overpowered, literally, in the mad rush of our modern world.
“On Sunday night, and during the early hours of Monday, a dark cloud hung over all of us as we struggled to understand and come to terms with the tragic turn of events on what ought to have been a night of fun, dance, friendship and laughter.
“Instead we learned, in a state of shock and disbelief, of the news of Lauren’s tragic death and the deaths of Connor and Morgan.
“We never know what each new day will have in store for any of us. One thing that never can be taken from us is our precious memories of your beautiful girl, Lauren.
“Lauren has been the essence of a wonderful and caring daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece to her family and a loyal and caring friend to so many others.
“So many have been touched by the events of Sunday night. Take consolation in what people in the community truly thought of her and yourselves as a family.
“Lauren was living the dream, energetic and full of life, doing and enjoying all the things that made her happy. She was a girl who was happiest when she was doing things to help others and gave of herself and her time to do a good deed whenever and wherever she could.
“Lauren’s many friends described her as having a warm and bubbly personality with a very infectious smile. That’s a lovely picture for all of us to have of her in our minds today.
“She was getting on so well in St Patrick’s College in Dungannon and her teachers can attest to how eager and very able a student Lauren was.
“She had a bright future and we know she still had so much more to contribute to our community. She had such a positive outlook on life and a real zest for living. She loved people as much as they loved her and was a real socialite with lots of friends who admired and looked up to her.
“Involved in football and the scouts, she had started driving lessons and had taken to it like a duck to water.
“Lauren’s real passion was cheerleading with the Euphoria Cheerleading group.
“Lauren was a girl who loved to get dressed up, loved make-up, her nails
A new baby will know his or her brother by stories of love FR AIDAN MCCANN CO TYRONE YESTERDAY