The congregation in Buncrana applauded loudly when the Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, said the First Minister of the Northern Assembly, Mr David Trimble, was "particularly welcome" to the funerals. He said the presence of Mr Trimble and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, was "very appropriate and significant". He added: "This is a new and welcome development. Both of you are very welcome." Everybody was relying on the two men and their colleagues to build on the gains which had been made and which had been overwhelmingly endorsed.
"We know it is not easy. We want to assure you that you are here among friends, among people who are looking to you and your colleagues to give us the type of climate in Northern Ireland which will be conducive to the building of a genuine and lasting just peace. It is the only alternative, there is no other. And we do not want ever, ever again to have a repeat of Saturday."
To Mr Trimble he said: "We wish you well and a fair wind in all your endeavours as you resume in the autumn." There was loud applause from the congregation in the church and the huge crowd standing outside in the graveyard.
Dr Hegarty addressed the bombers directly: "Unless you repent, no ideological or political consideration will even begin to exonerate you from the great sin against God, against humanity, and against this community of which you now stand guilty." The Bishop said he was addressing people "who were in any way" responsible for the atrocity. "Pray for those who ordered the making of the bomb, for those who constructed it, for those who transported it, and for those who were in any way participants in procuring that infamous instrument of death and destruction. They all stand very guilty before Almighty God." Dr Hegarty said the bombers had done a great wrong and committed a grave sin. He wanted them to hear his call, which was made more out of pastoral concern and charity than of anger. "I ask them to repent, to resolve firmly to give up their immoral trade in destruction and death, not temporarily or conditionally, but permanently, and to seek God's forgiveness for the atrocity which they have done.
"I call on all who are contemplating violence of any kind with the capacity to lead to the type of carnage and death which we have experienced over the last few days to repent, to turn to the way of peace."
Dr Hegarty said he wanted to express the sympathy of the bishops to the boys' parents. "What words fail to do I hope that the presence of this vast congregation will speak, and that from that you will get some comfort and consolation."