Hundreds of people attended the funeral of Conall McAleer, who died in a car crash in Co Donegal last weekend.
The 20-year-old, from Boa Island, Co Fermanagh, was fatally injured in a car crash in which his friend Shiva Blue Devine was also killed. Rachel Elliott, from Ballinamallard, Co Fermanagh, remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin following the crash, in which a Peugeot 306 car hit a wall and then a lamp-post at Eastend in Bundoran at about 3.25am on Sunday.
A family photograph, a pair of wellies and a piece of electrical equipment were among the gifts brought to the altar as symbols of Mr McAleer’s life during the service at St Joseph’s Church in Ederney, Co Fermanagh.
Canon Joseph Mullin, Mr McAleer’s great uncle, said it was a “deeply tragic day for Conall and his family”.
“Conall was full of hope and joy about life but has left behind him a treasury of love,” he said.
Canon Mullin said memories were very comforting in difficult times. He also prayed for Ms Devine, who was buried in Ballintra on Tuesday, as well as three others who are still in hospital as a result of the crash.
“It was great to hear that he had been on a family holiday in Spain for two weeks and 20-year-olds don’t normally do that but I am sure there was much laughter, mischief and joy,” Canon Mullin said.
Pupils from St Michael’s, Mount Lourdes; St Fanchea’s College, Enniskillen and St Joseph’s GAC Ederney formed guards of honour as Mr McAleer was buried in the adjoining cemetery.