Tributes paid as funerals held for St Patrick’s Day party victims

Fond tributes have been paid to the victims of a St Patrick’s Day party crush as their school friends gathered for a day of funerals.

There were emotional scenes as hundreds gathered to say farewell to three teenagers who lost their lives in the hotel disco tragedy in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Morgan’s funeral was first to be held on a solemn day which will see all three teenagers laid to rest.

Schoolchildren formed a solemn guard of honour in tribute to the young victim at St Patrick’s Church in Dungannon, Co Tyrone.

In his homily, Father Aidan McCann said it was an understatement to say Morgan was well-liked.

“He was a vivacious, charismatic and energetic young man who nobody had a bad word to say about,” he said.

“Morgan was a person of character who had a great sense of humour with an abundance of wit – always a smile on his face.

“You could never pass him on the corridor in school, and no doubt anywhere else, without getting a warm look or a quick joke as he passed.”

“Morgan was my best friend and no matter where he is he will always be my best friend,” he said.

“And I am going to love him forever.”

Lauren’s requiem mass was held an hour later at St Patrick’s Church in Donaghmore. A funeral service for Connor is taking place in the village of Edendork on Friday afternoon.

Lauren was carried into St Patrick’s Church in nearby Donaghamore in a pink and white casket adorned with flowers ahead of requiem mass.

She was borne through the church yard in Donaghmore followed by an enormous but silent crowd who had accompanied her on her final journey.

Chief celebrant at the service Father David Moore said the three victims had lost their lives “needlessly”.

He described the schoolgirl as the “essence of a wonderful and caring daughter, sister, grand-daughter, niece to her family and a loyal and caring friend to so many others”.

Fr Moore said Lauren’s friends described her as having a “warm and bubbly personality with a very infectious smile”.

“That’s a lovely picture for all of us to have of her in our minds today,” he said. A funeral pamphlet had a photograph of Lauren with her dog on the front.

Purple-clad members of Lauren’s cheerleading group, Euphoria All Star Cheerleading NI, formed a guard of honour as she was taken from the church.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, attended both of Friday morning’s funerals.

“Words fail us at times like this. All that really matters, and makes a difference, is love and friendship and compassion,” he said.

“And only faith can dare to speak into the darkness of these days to offer a glimmer of light and hope in this valley of tears.

“The shocking events of Sunday last have reminded us that life is very fragile; we need to cherish every moment and always look out for each other, and keep each other safe.”

Michael McElhatton, 52, who owns the Greenvale Hotel where the deaths occurred, was arrested earlier in the week on suspicion of manslaughter.

He was subsequently bailed to return for further questioning in future.

A 40-year-old man also being questioned on suspicion of manslaughter remained in police custody for questioning on Friday morning.