Tears As McGuigans Laid to Rest

[rdoo...@swbell.net]

December 28, 2006  7:08 AM

Tears As McGuigans Laid To Rest

TRAGEDY: Jim-Joe McGuigan’s mother Eileen carries his
coffin at yesterday’s funeral PICTURE: Colm Lenaghan

(Poster’s Note: To make donations to the McGuigan Family
send your checks to:

Father Aidan Troy CP
Holy Cross Monastery
432 Crumlin Road Belfast, BT14 7GE
N. Ireland

Jay)

*********************

http://www.irishnews.com/access/daily/current.asp?SID=544728

Tears As Father And Daughter Laid To Rest

By Marie Louise McCrory West Belfast Correspondent

There were emotional scenes in west Belfast yesterday at
the funeral of a father and his eight-year-old daughter
killed in an car crash four days before Christmas.

James Joseph McGuigan (30) and his daughter Lorna died
instantly on Friday when the Ford Escort he was driving hit
a tree on the Ballyhill Road on the outskirts of north
Belfast at around 9am.

His other daughters Stacey and Saoirse, aged four and five,
were also seriously injured and have remained in a critical
condition in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

Mr McGuigan, known as Jim-Joe, was originally from Lenadoon
in west Belfast but had been living in Ardoyne in the north
of the city in recent years with his partner Tina and their
children.

Hundreds of mourners packed St Oliver Plunkett Church in
Lenadoon for Requiem Mass for the pair.

Lorna's small white coffin was carried into the church
first by family members, followed by her father's.

Both were taken past a Christmas tree in the entrance
towards the altar where they were laid side-by-side before
a crib.

Pupils from Holy Cross primary school - where Lorna had
attended - were at the Mass in their uniforms.

During the offertory procession, the children played Silent
Night on tin whistles.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Patrick Devlin, assisted by Fr
Aidan Troy, from Holy Cross parish in Ardoyne.

Fr Devlin said Mr McGuigan and his daughter had been
"together in life in a very special way''.

"They were inseparable in life and we pray they will be
inseparable in death,'' he said.

Fr Devlin said Mr McGuigan's mother Eileen had spoken of
her son "with simple faith and immense love".

"Jim-Joe was described to me as lovable and kind,'' he
said.

"A character. Exceptionally playful. Very kind and indeed
big-hearted. Jim-Joe was very generous.''

He said "our little Lorna'' had been like "a doll with her
fairy blonde hair and big blue eyes".

"A very gifted child, a talented child, interested in
everything - animals, art, dancing and singing,'' he said.

"She brought a lot of joy, happiness and fun to her
family's life. She wanted to learn Irish dancing. She asked
her granny Eileen to teach her.

"A soft-natured child. A gentle child. Always jumping
around and laughing. Extremely grateful. Extremely polite.

"Her mum is broken-hearted. It is extremely sad to be in
this situation.''

Fr Devlin also offered prayers for Stacey and Saoirse
McGuigan.

"I am pleased to say the news from the hospital is good
this morning," he said.

"Each day, each hour, they are making improvements.

"Your prayers are still asked so their recovery will be
speedy."

----
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Posted by: Jay / 7:08 AM 

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