Young have 'culture of disregard' for life, says funeral priest

A priest at the funeral of two teenagers drowned in a boating accident pleaded to other young people today not to sacrifice their own lives.

Father Sean Cahill made his emotive call at Requiem Mass for cousins and best friends Clare Steele, 16, and Rory McAlinden, 18, in Castlewellan, Co Down, in the North.

Fr Cahill said there was a "culture of disregard" among young people for the dignity and beauty of their own lives and the lives of others and appealed for the area's youth to learn lessons from the weekend tragedy.

"The best guard of honour is to love and respect your own precious life, and to vow never to cause your parents and family the grief we have in this parish and in these two families today," he said.

The pair died in each other's arms after Rory tried to save Clare.

The bodies were recovered by underwater divers from nearby Castlewellan Lake after their canoe capsized at around 1am on Saturday morning.

The small town came to a standstill as the two coffins were carried side by side down the main street, flanked by team mates from St Malachy's GAA Club and grieving relatives.

Fr Cahill added that the pair had been socialising at Castlewellan Forest Park before taking the ill-fated decision to go out on the craft.

"For decades, generations in the town have been doing what the group of young people were engaged in on Good Friday night, going into the park surreptitiously after nightfall and socialising at the lakeside," he said.

"Parents, mothers and fathers say with good reason: 'It could have been us a generation ago', and 'It could have been one of our own'.

"Their hearts and ours go out to the Steeles and the McAlindens because it was their Clare and their Rory who were the victims."

Both were keen footballers and played for St Malachy's.

Clare had risen to the ranks of the Down Ladies team, and county team mates and school friends from St Malachy's High School which they both had attended, lined the route to St Malachy's Church today.

Fr Cahill said: "She was a fun-loving young lady, she was always smiling and everyone knows that she was very proud of her achievements.

"She was a delight and a joy to all around, always smiling, a sort of cheeky grin a lot of the time. A very bubbly personality.

He added that Rory, who worked as a joiner, was energetic.

"He was always up for a laugh, he was always a great practical joker.

"He was open minded and he was very honest and forthright."

At least 1,000 people packed into the church, with many more lining the route and standing in respectful silence outside the building.

Shops had shut, and young girls and elderly men shared the same ashen expression, shaking their heads at the enormity of the loss.

The coffins were carried side by side to the church, with matching floral wreaths and a green jersey of the club they played for on top.

Messages of support and comfort were carried in the hearse as well as a floral display bearing Rory's nickname, "Pint".

During the mass, Fr Cahill paid tribute to the emergency services, including police, coastguard and the diving team who had led the search.

Members of the emergency services were at the church as well as representatives from Castlewellan's Presbyterian Church.

The priest added that Clare's parents, Francie and Mary Clare and Rory's parents Veronica and Rory were grateful for their support.

The coffins were carried after the hour-and-a-half long service, for burial at the family plot in Aughlisnafin.