Numbed silence ahead of funerals

THERE was a numbed silence across a Donegal peninsula yesterday evening as hearse after hearse made the journey from Letterkenny General Hospital to Fahan, Buncrana, Clonmany and Ballyliffen and families prepared for the first of eight funerals today.

The first funeral today is that of Hugh Friel, 66, from Dunaff, Clonmany, who was the lone occupant of the red Toyota Corolla which was in collision with the VW Passat in which the seven young men died at Glasmullan, near Clonmany. Mr Friel, a single man, will be laid to rest following Requiem Mass in St Michael’s Church, Clonmany, at 10am.

Mr Friel was described by his neighbours as a modest, unassuming man never drank and who loved his twice weekly bingo games in Buncrana.