‘He never failed to draw people into his shadow’

A YOUNG girl whose brother died in a freak weekend accident just 18 months after her father drowned reduced mourners to tears yesterday when she spoke of her heartache and loss.

Brave Louise O’Driscoll prayed for her brother Fintan and father Jerh, who drowned in a fishing accident, to help her and her mother Rose through their grief.

Fintan, 17, was the youngest of three friends who died in a freak accident in the early hours of Saturday morning when their car plunged into the bay below Dunboy Castle, just outside Castletownbere in West Cork.

It is one of the worst tragedies to hit the Beara peninsula in decades.

Fintan was buried after a heartbreaking service in Castletownbere’s Sacred Heart Church at 2pm.

Earlier, Shane Kelly, 20, was buried after noon mass in St Michael’s Church in Allihies on the other side of the peninsula.

The third victim of the tragedy, Colum Harrington, 21, was buried on Bere Island on Monday.

During an emotional eulogy in Castletownbere, Fintan’s sister Louise paid tribute to him.

“His personality was very unique, he never failed to draw people into his shadow,” she said.

“His humour drew a picture of the person he was and always will be.

“He left us all with wonderful memories that we will cherish forever.”

Her voice cracked with emotion when she spoke of how Fintan sat on the end of her bed after a night out last week and spoke about his father.

“And he said to me: ‘Louise, I would do anything just to see him or talk to him again’,” she said.

“I know the two of you are up there now together and I hope you are at peace and happiness.

“Because myself and mum — our hearts are broken — even more so again.

“Please, the two of ye help us get through it all. We are so proud of you, and we love you so, so much.

“I’m going to miss you so much, I love you with all my heart, take care, God Bless, I love you.”

Mourners wiped tears from their eyes and filled the church with moving and sustained applause for the brave teenager.

Canon Patrick Sheehan said after Jerh’s death, Fintan had told his mother not to worry.

“He just wanted to fill his father’s shoes, he wanted to grow up to be the man of the house and he told Rose not to worry.”

He said he was deeply moved by Rose’s words as she stood over her dead son’s body last Saturday.

“Rose said: ‘He has gone to meet his father in a better place. He has gone to heaven’.”

He said President Mary McAleese contacted him to say she would contact the families personally to express her condolences.

Gifts brought to the altar included a toy car, Fintan’s No Fear baseball cap, a CD, and a RNLI jumper.

He was enrolled as a full member of the Castletownbere lifeboat crew — the same crew that recovered his father’s body 18 months ago — on February 13. They formed a guard of honour as the cortege left the church.

In Allihies earlier, Fr Liam Comber said few burdens are heavier “than the coffin of your son”.

He urged Shane’s parents Michael and Theresa, sister Danielle, step-brothers Michael and Mark, to lean on the community for support. “We are gathered here today, as people have gathered for the last two days in overflowing numbers to try and comfort Shane’s family, and to try and comfort ourselves,” he said.

“And if numbers alone could heal, this massive outpouring of love and solidarity to Shane’s family and extended family during the past days would have expelled their every sorrow and dried their tears.”

Relatives and friends placed a fishing reel, a model tractor and digger, a mobile phone and cigarettes alongside a framed baby photograph of Shane at the foot of the altar.

Pupils of Cahermore NS held daffodils and formed a guard of honour as Shane’s remains were carried to the cemetery.