Bishop leads condolences to family and community

THE Bishop of Meath Michael Smith was among those to offer his condolences to the family of Michael White and the local community yesterday.

Bishop Smith, whose diocese includes parts of Co Offaly, said arrangements were recently made to commemorate the five young girls killed in the bus tragedy outside Navan last May.

“That another such bus tragedy should involve young people from another school in the diocese is something that will evoke both shock and grief. I extend my deepest sympathy and prayerful support to the White family on the death of their son in this latest tragedy,” he said.

“Many pupils have suffered injury but the response of the services has been excellent and one trusts all of them will make a quick recovery. It is a traumatic experience for the whole school community,” he said.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) general secretary John White and president Sheila Parsons sent a message to the White family, students and teachers.

“We all feel profoundly for the grief and loss of the parents and family of the boy killed so tragically. Sudden bereavement has a profound impact on a school community and our thoughts are with all those bereaved,” they said.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) also lent its support.

“We would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and community affected by this devastating tragedy,” said TUI general secretary Jim Dorney.

The National Parents Council-Post Primary (NPC-PP), which threatened not to allow students travel on school buses after last year’s fatal school bus crash, stepped back from such a reaction yesterday.

“While this crash appears to be a repetition of the sad event in Meath last May, the NPC-PP does not wish to engage in finger-pointing or posturing at this time. Rather, we feel that it is appropriate to express our profound sorrow and sympathy for the grieving family, and our support for the injured students and their families,” said council president Jim Jackman.