Mourners hear moving tributes to stabbed student

A promising young student stabbed to death by a jealous love rival was remarkably similar in so many ways to his killer, his funeral Mass heard today.

Sebastian Creane’s mother Nuala said her son was the light while Shane Clancy, who knifed himself in the heart after the frenzied attack on August 16, was the darkness.

And mourners grieving the young man’s death in a horrific murder-suicide were urged to help banish the blame felt by his devastated girlfriend.

Jennifer Hannigan joined hundreds of family and friends at the funeral of Mr Creane in Bray, Co. Wicklow, to hear his grieving mother pay a poignant and moving tribute.

“I notice that both boys who died were 22, both had the same initials, both were about to enter their final year in college and looked set, even in these recessionary times, to have fruitful careers,” Mrs Creane said.

“So many similarities. Yet on the morning of August 16 my God of small things said to me, one boy represented the light, the other the darkness.”

Mourners responded with a standing ovation.

Prayers had earlier been offered for the grieving Clancy family who buried their son last Thursday.

Mrs Creane, a mother-of-two, urged mourners to channel thoughts of happiness and comfort to Ms Hannigan.

“She feels so responsible. She blames herself. Make her heart feel that happiness,” Mrs Creane said.

Ms Hannigan suffered serious injuries when her ex-boyfriend Clancy, believed to be jealous over her relatively new relationship with Mr Creane, launched a brutal attack before turning a knife on himself.

The vicious assault was carried out at the Creane family home in the middle-class Cuala Grove area of Bray in the early hours of Sunday, August 16

Among the mourners at the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in Bray today was Mr Creane’s father James, as well as his brother Dylan who was also injured in the attack.

“Dylan, Seb, Jen and Laura faced a presence of demonic proportions that manifested through Shane Clancy,” Mrs Creane said.

A white piano rested at the side of the altar – close family friend Phil Coulter, who offered his own public tribute to Sebastian last week, played throughout the service.

'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Steal Away' were performed by the Derry-born composer along with singer Tommy Fleming.

Mr Coulter also played a piece specially composed for Mr Creane, himself an avid and talented musician.

Mr Creane had been entering his final year studying visual communications at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

Friends and relatives offered Prayers of the Faithful, with tributes to Sebastian’s patience and his talents for photography, music and skateboarding.

A guitar and camera, reflecting Sebastian’s love of music and photography, as well as a selection of photos and a Nintendo computer game were left by his coffin, a simple wicker casket.

After the service Sebastian’s remains were taken to St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo for prayers followed by burial in nearby Leigue Cemetery.

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