THE DEATHS of three brothers in a fire in Drogheda, Co Louth, was “a tragedy beyond comprehension”, mourners were told yesterday.
Martin McDonagh (21) and his brothers Tony (16) and James (8) died last week when their family home in Moneymore was burned to the ground.
At their funeral Mass yesterday afternoon in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Drogheda, Auxillary Bishop of Armagh Gerard Clifford said there was a sense of enormous loss throughout the whole community.
“No father or mother ever expects to see a son or daughter die as young people, but to lose three sons in this way is a tragedy beyond comprehension,” he said.
“This is one of the most tragic happenings in our diocese.” The three coffins, two man-sized, and one small and white, carried photographs of the brothers, and on the smallest was a toy truck and a hand-drawn picture.
Over 1,400 people from throughout the community turned out to mourn the three boys and to lend support to their parents Anthony and Kathleen, who were seriously injured in the blaze, as well as to the boys’ siblings Catríona, Caroline, Lisa, Bridget, Geraldine, Anne, John, and Eddie, who was also injured.
They were joined by aide de camp to the Taoiseach, Comdt Michael Treacy and Col Declan Carberry, aide de camp to President Mary McAleese.
Parish priest Fr John McAlinden, who officiated, said the family was very much loved and deeply respected in the neighbourhood of Moneymore and beyond. “All our hearts go out to you,” he said.
He told the family no words could express the shock, disbelief and pain they were experiencing. He said though they might ask “what if”, they should not apportion any blame on themselves.
“What happened last Monday was beyond human control and there was nothing you could do to stop it,” he said.
He said the three young men had spent their allotted amount of time on earth and had brought joy and happiness to those who loved them.
Prayers were said for the family, their relatives and friends as well as for all those who assisted them, including gardaí, firefighters and health professionals.
Class photos were among the gifts brought to the altar as the children of Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Choir sang Ag Críost an Síol.
Cousins of the three read poems from the altar. One, addressed to Martin said “it brings us so much sorrow to know that you are gone, but we will always keep you in our hearts”. Tony, who died on his 16th birthday, was described as a hero, and James was addressed as the baby and pet of the family.
Another relative sang In the Arms of Angels.
The coffins left the church to the singing of The Fields of Athenry and were driven around Moneymore before being interred in the nearby St Peter’s Cemetery.
