Tara’s remains returned to heartbroken parents

TARA WHELAN’S remains have returned to her family home, to her heartbroken parents, brothers, sisters, niece and a shattered community.

There were brief prayers and more tears as the simple wooden casket was removed from the hearse in the driveway below the yellow-painted bungalow just before 3pm. It was taken inside, into the back room where Tara used to watch TV.

Her mother’s favourite picture of the bubbly 17 year-old was placed on top of the closed casket. A collage of other pictures tracing her life from an active tot on the beach to the most recent snaps from her Turkish holiday hung on a notice board close to the kitchen.

“It’s heart-breaking but Tony and Frances are delighted that Tara’s remains are finally home,” local curate, Fr Gerard O’Connor said.

The curate and local parish priest, Fr Michael O’Byrne, will lead prayers today at the yellow-painted bungalow which was once filled with so much joy.

“We’re still making final preparations for the funeral mass on Thursday at noon. I’m preparing six symbols of her life for the Mass. Among them will be the tin whistle she so loved to play.”

Among those who will attend the funeral will be Colonel Ray King, representing the President and Comdt Michael Murray, who will represent the Taoiseach, as well as Turkish embassy representative, Korhan Kagngru.

At Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School yesterday, pupils continued to gather and prepare for the funeral mass. Among those to sign a book of condolences were twins, Tracey and Lyndsay Gagley, who were on holiday in Turkey with Tara but who were not on the ill-fated bus.

Meanwhile, The Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday updated its travel alert for Irish people travelling to Turkey in the light of Saturday’s atrocity.

The new advisory concludes that Irish people should still travel to Turkey but asks those travelling to exercise caution and ensure they make safety a priority.

The updated advice came after yesterday’s visit by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, to Ankara where he discussed Saturday’s bombing with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.

Mr Ahern received reassurances that Turkey had increased its security at airports and at tourist centres.

Their intelligence services had also increased their operations, and was better coordinating its actions against proscribed groups.