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"PJ's gone"
15.07.10
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by Linda McGrory
PJ McLaughlin wanted to be "famous for something"
but as one of eight victims of Ireland's worst ever
road crash, the 21 year old would now be famous "but
not for the right reasons", mourners at his funeral
were told yesterday.
PJ's was the last of yesterday's three funerals
while the anguish and heartache will continue today
and tomorrow in the peninsula as the five remaining
young victims are laid to rest in their respective
parishes.
A massive crowd gathered at St Mura’s Church in
Fahan at 3pm, many having followed the cortege from
the young man's late home at Rockstown, Tooban,
Burnfoot.
Fr Neil McGoldrick told mourners the families
visited the scene of the tragic accident at
Glasmullen, on the main Buncrana to Clonmany Road,
on Tuesday evening before it was reopened to the
public.
"What a journey that must have been and when they
were there, they were saying that there wasn't much
sign of what had happened." This was incongruous
when juxtaposed against the "pain, anguish and
horror" in "the hearts and souls of PJ's family". |
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He was remembered as a
"little bit of a showman" who loved fashion and
style. Once, when he saw a great pair of boots on a
man in a nightclub, he sent his girlfriend over to
find out where he got them.
He enjoyed life to the full. He enjoyed working in
the garage, loved his many friends and loved to play
football. He was a striker for Illies Celtic FC who
formed a guard of honour yesterday as their
team-mate's coffin was borne into the church. The
Ballymacgroarty folk group from Derry provided
beautiful music for the service.
Fr McGoldrick added: “One of the family members was
telling me that he wanted to be famous for
something. When you think that his face appeared on
the front page of probably every newspaper in this
country, he was famous, but not for the right
reasons.”
Chief mourners were PJ's parents Charlie and
Kathleen, his brothers Charles and Odhran and
sisters Aoife and Deborah. His sisters said the
first readings at the requiem mass while his
brothers brought the offertory gifts to the altar.
The gifts were an Illies Celtic jersey, a framed
photograph of a BMW car and a fun trophy.
The fun-loving young man was also remembered as
someone who was "mentally strong" and a little bit
stubborn. "When he said no he meant no, not maybe."
He was also a meticulous worker who would do
anything for his friends.
"When his friends needed his assistance, he would be
there 24/7 and would have gone the length of Ireland
to assist or help. That's why he had so many friends
and was so popular," said the local priest.
The parish priest revealed that on the evening PJ's
remains came home, his mother Kathleen said: "It
will be hard, but we will manage". He said she
seemed to be "reassuring PJ and at the same time
giving strength to her family and to herself." Fr
McGoldrick said the young man's father simply said "PJ's
gone".
He was laid to rest immediately afterwards in the
adjoining cemetery. |
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