Eight funeral services for the remaining victims of the Omagh bombing took place in or just outside the town yesterday. The streets were deserted apart from people on their way to attend. The president of the Methodist Church, the Rev David Kerr, was close to tears as he gave the address at the funeral of Julia Hughes (21), an accountancy student at Dundee University, who took a summer job in her home town to be near her family.
Mr Kerr said that Julia's father, Alec, whom he knew when they were both young men, described his daughter as someone who faced life head on.
He added, trying to hold back tears: "We have met again as two fathers struggling to make sense of the madness and evil of this world. One, as he tries to come to terms with the death of one of his daughter. The other as a minister of religion trying to bring comfort and to struggle with the question: where is a loving God in the midst of so much suffering?"
Mr Kerr said that as well as being full of life and a tomboy, Julia was quiet and sensitive. Julia's twin brother, Justin, read a poem at the service. Hundreds of people packed into the small church and an adjoining hall to sympathise with her parents, Alec and Helen, her two brothers, Justin and Richard, and her sister, Lara. A former schoolfriend said she was "a lovely wee girl", adding: "She was always happy, always had a smile on her face. And she was a really caring person." Mr Seamus Mallon, the Deputy First Minister of the Northern Assembly, attended the funeral, as did the Duke of Abercorn and Lord Fitt.
A funeral service for Deborah Anne Cartwright (20) was held in St Columba's Church of Ireland church. The Rev Ruth Adams said the community in Omagh had got hope from the love and support shown by so many people around the world. Brian McCrory (54) was buried after Mass at St Mary's Church in Killyclogher. Father Eugene Hassan said Mr McCrory's wife was willing to carry the burden of losing her husband if his death was the last. Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein was among hundreds of mourners standing outside the packed church. Mr McCrory is survived by his wife and three children.
The funeral of Samantha McFarland (17) took place in Lislimnaghan, two miles from Omagh. The Rev Derek Quinn described the bomb attack as "a monstrous act of savagery". Samantha's schoolfriends formed a guard of honour outside the church. The youngest of three children, she was working as a volunteer in the Oxfam shop last Saturday. A local Catholic priest, Father Kevin Mullan, attended the funeral and said the Catholic family was grieving with the McFarland family.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, addressed the funeral of Esther Gibson (36) at Sixemilecross yesterday afternoon. A Sunday school teacher in the Free Presbyterian Church, she was praised by the local clergyman for playing an active role in her church.
Dr Paisley said the killing of the 28 people in Omagh bore witness to the failure of the British government to carry out its duty in combating terrorism. Mrs Anne McCombe (49) was buried after a service at Mountjoy Presbyterian Church, three miles from Omagh. The Rev Ian Mairs said that the attack was an offence against the community and had evoked a powerful response. "Undoubtedly designed to drive a wedge through this community, I believe that time alone will show that this was the decisive act in unleashing a fierce determination from the people of Omagh to stand together as a community.
"I believe that, as never before, there exists a corporate will to work together to build a new community under the mantle of the new political structures which the vast majority of the decent, God-fearing, peace-loving people of this island of Ireland have voted for."
Mrs McCombe is survived by her husband and two grown-up sons.
The Minister for Defence and the Marine, Dr Woods, attended the funeral of Mrs Elizabeth Rush (57) at St Mary's Church in Drumragh. Mr David Trimble, First Minister of the Northern Assembly, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, were also present.