The town of Buncrana and beyond were rocked on Sunday when five members of the same family lost their lives in a horrific tragedy. Today those people were laid to rest.
At the funeral service in the Church of the Holy Family, Father Paddy O’ Kane, told the crowd of 8-year-old Evan McGrotty’s very last words to his mum, Louise, as he sat in the car by the pier on Sunday night:
“Mammy, I miss you so much. I am going to give you the biggest, tightest hug you ever got when I see you again”.
According to The Derry Journal, Father O’Kane told mum Louise that she could find solace in the fact that the five members of her family were now reunited in heaven, with her baby son, Joshua.
Adding: “You are just going to have to wait a little longer until you get that tight hug promised to you from Evan.”
Fr. O’Kane continued by telling the congregation of his meeting with mum Louise after the tragedy occurred, repeatedly telling him that her four-month-old baby Rionaghac-Ann, the sole survivor of the tragedy, was her ‘only reason to go on living’.
“Even the heavens are crying,” he said.
“Five beautiful people have been taken tragically from our midst. Five people whom we loved. Not just this family, this community, this country, but also people from all over the world are united with us in grief.”
In a touching poem, Louise James paid tribute to her beloved husband Sean McGrotty, 49, sons Mark, 12, and Evan, mother Ruth Daniels, 59, and sister, Jodie Lee, 14, who tragically died when their vehicle slipped into Lough Swilly from a pier in Buncrana.
“Heartbroken beyond repair,
the tragedy of a family gone,
leaving so many in despair.
They went to watch the sunset,
together on Buncrana Pier,
unbeknown to them all
an angel would be near.
Taken together as a family,
joined as one on heaven’s door,
a community left in mourning,
lives shatter ever more.
Their faces will forever map the sea,
Remembered by each and every one.
Down by the lake or shadows,
when you look beyond the sun.”
The grief-stricken mother also thanked Davitt Walsh for his bravery in risking his life to save daughter Rionaghac-Ann.
Today’s Derry News front page…no words needed. pic.twitter.com/EG9g6dAiP3
— Patricia Devlin (@trishdevlin) March 24, 2016
A poignant tribute on the front page of Derry News.
Walsh received an applause from the large congregation.
In the days since, the authorities and family members of the McGrotty‘s have also thanked Walsh and dubbed him a ‘hero’.
A Facebook post calling for the former League of Ireland footballer to be nominated for a special Presidential award is gathering huge momentum online.
Our thoughts are with Louise James and her extended family at this time.
