Praise for Tom who ‘ loved and promoted life’
TOM O’Gorman was remembered at his funeral Mass yesterday as a man who ‘loved life, valued life and promoted life’ and the example he set will ‘help and inspire’ those he left behind.
Hundreds turned out to pay tribute to the 39-year-old Iona Institue researcher – killed at his home two weeks ago – and the devastation over his death was still evident.
His grief-stricken brother Paul, sister Catherine and family led his friends and colleagues for the service, which was concelebrated by two bishops and 23 priests at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Castleknock.
Among those in attendance were Transport Minister Leo Varadkar, director of the Iona Institute, David Quinn, journalist Breda O’Brien and former Irish Daily Mail columnist Richard Waghorne.
Chief celebrant Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick spoke of how it had been two weeks since news of Tom’s shocking death that had left them ‘distraught’. He said recent tributes paid to the devout Catholic showed ‘what a gift Tom has been’ and would continue to be. He told how Tom had over 1,000 Facebook friends, which prompted some laughter from the congregation. He also recalled how Tom ‘loved life, valued life and promoted life’.
Tom’s brother Paul gave a reading from the Book of Wisdom, which included the quotes: ‘Coming to perfection in so short a while, he achieved long life; his soul pleasing to the Lord, he has taken him quickly from the wickedness around him.’
Delivering the homily, Tom’s friend, Fr Stephen Kelly, said Tom had been taken all too quickly and cruelly but the burden is lessened somewhat by being together. Fr Kelly told the congregation: ‘There was something childlike about Tom; a sense of fun, his mimicry, his love of being with people, his honesty and his trustfulness all brought that out. But perhaps the most childlike feature was his perception, he didn’t look at image or projection but at the person and thought well of them.
‘He never seemed jealous of others in any way and he never worried about what others thought of him. ’
He spoke of Tom’s love for his family, Paul and Catherine, his late parents Ann and Thomas and how he was ‘immensely proud of being an uncle’ and rejoiced in showing photos of his niece and nephews to friends. He also recalled Tom’s many interests including sport, especially rugby, music and film. Fr Kelly concluded by praying that Tom’s example would inspire those he left behind.
As the service ended, Paul and Catherine were overcome with emotion and consoled each other as Ma Toute Belle – Tom’s favourite song – echoed through the church.
A 34-year-old Italian man, Saverio Bellante, has been charged with murdering Mr O’Gorman.