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Creeslough explosion: James O'Flaherty an 'amazing and capable man' | Creeslough explosion: James O'Flaherty an 'amazing and capable man' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Derrybeg | The funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Derrybeg |
Mourners have heard that James O'Flaherty, a victim of the explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal, was an "amazing and capable man". | Mourners have heard that James O'Flaherty, a victim of the explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal, was an "amazing and capable man". |
Mr O'Flaherty's funeral has been taking place at St Mary's Church in Derrybeg. | Mr O'Flaherty's funeral has been taking place at St Mary's Church in Derrybeg. |
Ten people were killed in Friday's explosion, which police said appears to have been a tragic accident. | Ten people were killed in Friday's explosion, which police said appears to have been a tragic accident. |
The funeral Mass for Catherine O'Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, is taking place at St Michael's Church in Creeslough. | The funeral Mass for Catherine O'Donnell, 39, and her son James Monaghan, 13, is taking place at St Michael's Church in Creeslough. |
A priest at Mr O'Flaherty's funeral said the "catastrophe is beyond comprehension" and "the awfulness of the tragedy has reverberated near and far". | |
"Out of the depths of this terrible tragedy, a most beautiful and radiant and divine light of friendship of love and support has shone and continues to shine brightly - people have been brought together," he added. | "Out of the depths of this terrible tragedy, a most beautiful and radiant and divine light of friendship of love and support has shone and continues to shine brightly - people have been brought together," he added. |
James O'Flaherty was an engineer | James O'Flaherty was an engineer |
Mr O'Flaherty, 48, was originally from Sydney in Australia, but was living with his wife Tracey and son Hamish in Dunfanaghy, a village about 10 minutes' drive from Creeslough. | Mr O'Flaherty, 48, was originally from Sydney in Australia, but was living with his wife Tracey and son Hamish in Dunfanaghy, a village about 10 minutes' drive from Creeslough. |
The priest said Mr O'Flaherty lived for his wife and son who he described as a "very brave and a courageous young man". | The priest said Mr O'Flaherty lived for his wife and son who he described as a "very brave and a courageous young man". |
"James showered his loving son and wife in hugs and kisses every day," he said. | "James showered his loving son and wife in hugs and kisses every day," he said. |
"James O'Flaherty was a generous and a kind man. He loved chatting to other people and he just wanted to spend all his free time with you - his family. | "James O'Flaherty was a generous and a kind man. He loved chatting to other people and he just wanted to spend all his free time with you - his family. |
"He had honesty and integrity in abundance. | "He had honesty and integrity in abundance. |
"He was a man who had high morals which I'm told are traits and values that he shared with his late father," he told mourners. | "He was a man who had high morals which I'm told are traits and values that he shared with his late father," he told mourners. |
The hearse carrying the coffin of James O'Flaherty makes its way to St Mary's Church in Derrybeg | |
Irish president Michael D Higgins is attending the funerals. | |
Speaking after Mr O'Flaherty's funeral, he said: "It is important to recognise that when a terrible disaster like this happens, that it doesn't weigh only on those who have lost their lives or those who are injured or their families. | |
"It's a lesson to everybody to see, in a way, how an entire community can be initially numb with the tragedy and interpreting it, but the way they're able to respond. | |
"Being able to take the grief of others into ourselves is a very important aspect of character both for a person and a community." | "Being able to take the grief of others into ourselves is a very important aspect of character both for a person and a community." |
Michael D Higgins says the whole community is grieving | Michael D Higgins says the whole community is grieving |
An Garda Síochána (Irish police) continues to investigate the cause of the blast in a building complex that included a service station, convenience store and residential apartments. | An Garda Síochána (Irish police) continues to investigate the cause of the blast in a building complex that included a service station, convenience store and residential apartments. |
The store, which included a post office, was the main shop serving the 400-strong village. | The store, which included a post office, was the main shop serving the 400-strong village. |
Embraces and hugs on a difficult day | Embraces and hugs on a difficult day |
By Davy Wilson, for BBC News NI in Derrybeg | By Davy Wilson, for BBC News NI in Derrybeg |
It is another difficult day in Donegal. | It is another difficult day in Donegal. |
Outside St Mary's Church in Derrybeg, mourners greet one another, embrace and hug. | Outside St Mary's Church in Derrybeg, mourners greet one another, embrace and hug. |
In this tranquil Irish speaking part of the county, they gather for the funeral of James O'Flaherty. | In this tranquil Irish speaking part of the county, they gather for the funeral of James O'Flaherty. |
Among them, uniformed children from Faugher National School, where Mr O'Flaherty's son Hamish had been a pupil: a guard of honour to meet the cortege and welcome President Higgins. | Among them, uniformed children from Faugher National School, where Mr O'Flaherty's son Hamish had been a pupil: a guard of honour to meet the cortege and welcome President Higgins. |
It is a large crowd that has come to Donegal's Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area for a Mass conducted in Irish and English. | It is a large crowd that has come to Donegal's Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area for a Mass conducted in Irish and English. |
Many here will have travelled this morning through the Poisoned Glen, an area of natural beauty that belies its name. | Many here will have travelled this morning through the Poisoned Glen, an area of natural beauty that belies its name. |
Many have made the journey now to Creeslough for the funeral Mass for Catherine O'Donnell, and her son James. | |
On the way into this village so devastated by Friday's explosion, some stood silently at the roadside as two coffins, as a mother and son, passed by. | |
Many more lined Creeslough's Main Street. | |
Outside St Michael's, the community stands side by side again. | |
So many who were here on Tuesday are here again, as a village continues to mourn. | |
The congregation heard Catherine was "bubbly" and that James was "full of life and joy" | |
Catherine and James were in the queue for the post office when the explosion happened. | Catherine and James were in the queue for the post office when the explosion happened. |
They had gone there after the 13-year-old had finished school for the day. | |
Creeslough spirit shines amid darkness of tragedy | Creeslough spirit shines amid darkness of tragedy |
Donegal community 'living through a nightmare' | Donegal community 'living through a nightmare' |
Who were the victims of the petrol station explosion? | Who were the victims of the petrol station explosion? |
At the funeral, Fr Duffy told his classmates: "James was full of devilment, wasn't he? And full of life and joy. | |
"That's what he would want boys and girls. He would want that joy and that life in you, and to value your life and always do well in life." | |
The congregation heard Catherine was "bubbly" and "full of life". | |
"She was very intelligent and she loved parties," said Fr Duffy. | |
He described her as a "glam lady", who loved to shop. | |
"She was a loving mother, a loving partner, a loving daughter and one who was much, much loved," he added. | |
On Tuesday, Masses were held at St Michael's Church in the village for Jessica Gallagher, 24, and 49-year-old Martin McGill. | On Tuesday, Masses were held at St Michael's Church in the village for Jessica Gallagher, 24, and 49-year-old Martin McGill. |
Mourners at Ms Gallagher's funeral were told that she would be remembered for the "ripples of love, affection and warmth" she left behind. | Mourners at Ms Gallagher's funeral were told that she would be remembered for the "ripples of love, affection and warmth" she left behind. |
Mr McGill was described as having a "beautiful, gentle soul". | Mr McGill was described as having a "beautiful, gentle soul". |
The funerals of two other victims - 14-year-old Leona Harper and 49-year-old Martina Martin - will take place on Thursday, while Hugh Kelly, 59, will be laid to rest on Friday. | The funerals of two other victims - 14-year-old Leona Harper and 49-year-old Martina Martin - will take place on Thursday, while Hugh Kelly, 59, will be laid to rest on Friday. |
The two remaining victims were 50-year-old Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe. | The two remaining victims were 50-year-old Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe. |