The "frenzied" murderers of Damien Trainor and Philip Allen must strengthen the resolve of the people of Northern Ireland to resist violence and support the work of the peacemakers, the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, has said.
At the funeral Mass in St Joseph's Catholic parish church in Poyntzpass for Damien Trainor, killed with his Protestant friend, Philip Allen, as they drank together in the village on Tuesday night, Dr Brady said everyone must pledge themselves to ensuring that they did not die in vain.
The church was thronged to capacity, with several hundred more Catholic and Protestant mourners outside. Among the attendance were the parents Cecil and Ethel, sister Hilary, fiancee Carol Magill, and brothers Alfred, Jeffrey and David, of Philip Allen.
They joined Damien's parents, Ann and Sean, and his brother James in the Catholic church. Philip's brothers helped carry the coffin to the church. In turn the Trainor family later attended the funeral of Philip Allen in the nearby Presbyterian church.
Dr Brady said people in Northern Ireland stood at a crossroads. He asked: "Are we going to set our sights on and turn towards the road that leads to a genuine peace; a peace built, like the friendship of Damien and Philip, on sure foundations; on the foundations of respect and equality, truth and the freedom to be different?"
Their deaths should be the last to dishonour this land. "They will not have died in vain if we all resolve to work and pray more earnestly for peace. Let us pledge ourselves to make sure that they have not died in vain."
Dr Brady said Damien Trainor and Philip Allen died at the hands of "frenzied killers".
He added that the community was united in disbelief, horror and revulsion. "Now, hopefully we will all be equally united in our determination to find and accept a settlement that will put an end, once and for all, to atrocities like that of Tuesday night.
"Now, hopefully we will all be united in the resolve to support the work of the peacemakers, united in our resolution to build peace, a peace that will last."
The parish priest, Father Brian Hackett, told mourners that Damien and Philip would have run a mile rather than be part of a political cause.
"If they were told that they had become a symbol of hope in Northern Ireland they would not let themselves be seen. They would stay in the background," he said.
People had been terrorised by the killers. But he added: "Perhaps I could ask the men of violence: `Are you scared about the integrated pubs and businesses all around the place? Are you scared that there are other Damiens and Philips all over Northern Ireland?'
"Maybe we are all dreamers around Poyntzpass, but is it all over bar the shouting, and do these men realise that? The men of violence are scared . . . We have to redouble our efforts for peace," said Father Hackett.
