A Co Donegal priest called to the devastating scene of the deaths of two young men in a road tragedy in Gortahork has spoken of how fragile life is in such times of unspeakable tragedy.
Fr. Brian O’Fearraigh attended the scene of last night’s crash in which friends Shaun McClafferty and Jamie Diver perished.
The men were with two other friends whose car struck the gable wall of a house at Baltoney just before 9.30pm.
The two other friends are both in a serious condition in Letterkenny University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Fr O’Fearraigh revealed how he gave the last rites to the two young friends at the scene.
He told how he was asked to call to the scene by local Gardai and described the scene that he met.
“It was just a devastating sense of silence and sadness,” he said.
“Here we had two young lads whose lives were full and all of a sudden they were cut short.
“It really is sometimes difficult to put it into words but what it once again brought home to me is how fragile life is.
“This kind of tragedy is not uncommon in Donegal but you never get used to it. Losing a child is not a natural thing for parents to go through and when it happens it is just devastating,” he added.
Fr O’Fearraigh said the local community will wrap its arms around the families of all those involved in the tragedy including those who lost loved ones.
“The one thing that can be guaranteed is that it will happen and that support will be there in the days, months and years ahead whenever it is needed.
“Words fall silent at a time of loss but a simple gesture or just being there for these families will reassure them that they are not and will not be alone at their time of need,” he added.
Fr O’Fearraigh also paid tribute to the emergency services who attended last night’s tragedy for their professionalism and empathy.
“I simply cannot speak highly enough of the Gardai, the ambulance service personnel and the fire service from both Gaoth Dobhair and Falcarragh.
“Sometimes we forget that these are just people too and the professionalism and empathy they showed last night was simply amazing and I want to thank each and every one of them,” he added.
