|
Community’s tears and anger at final farewell
 By
Trevor O’Sullivan
The sun may have been peering out from the clouds but the pervading atmosphere
at the funeral of London Irish schoolboy Martin Dinnegan was intensely
sombre.
The mixture of anger and desolation permeated every instant of one of
the most moving and touching funerals Tollington Park has ever experienced.
Martin died after being stabbed in the street as he made his way to a
youth club near his home a month ago in a crime which shocked the nation.
Martin’s Co. Westmeath-born dad James expressed his gladness for
the poignant ceremony, which he said was everything the family had yearned
for.
He said: “The funeral was a fitting testimony to everything Martin
stood for. I was intensely proud of the community for turning out in such
large numbers to honour our son.”
Martin’s mum Lorraine Dinnegan cried during and after the ceremony,
which was attended by hundreds of mourners.
And there was a mixture of sadness for her tragic loss but also intense
gratitude to those who turned up in huge numbers to pay their respect.
She said: “Martin will be looking down from heaven today a very
happy boy at the love shown by those who knew him. St. Mellitus Church
did Martin proud.”
Such was the high esteem Martin was held in by the community that even
the Mayor of Islington Councillor Barbara Smith was present, as well as
various other dignitaries.
The scene outside the church before and after the funeral was inexpressible.
Family members, friends and locals seemed numbed with shock as the sight
of the coffin finally reiterated the fact that Martin was no longer with
them.
Outside the church floral tributes filled every conceivable space, with
many paying tribute to Martin’s Irish and Scottish background.
Martin’s classmates from St. Aloysius College played a pivotal role
in the funeral ceremony reading some extremely moving and relevant quotes
from the Bible.
His Irish headmaster Tom Mannion from Galway was also present to help
his classmates cope in their grief-stricken state.
The outpouring of emotion from the local community was so strong that
every space in the church was taken up and many were forced to stand inside
and outside the church.
Even those who didn’t know Martin personally welled up with tears
at the intense sentiment expressed inside St. Mellitus Church.
At least six priests took part in the funeral and each spoke movingly
about the contribution Martin had made in his 14 short years of life.
One said: “Some may feel that Martin’s death means his purpose
in life is now over. But he still has a purpose to fulfil, watching over
and taking care of his family from heaven.
“Martin is resting with the Lord Jesus preparing for the day when
he will meet his family again.”
Another spoke with fondness of Martin’s intense allegiance to both
his Irish and Scottish roots.
One particular emotive comment which seemed to resonate with the congregation
was one statement that Martin was now “seeing the light on the face
of Christ and that God had led him safely home to heaven where he will
live happily forever”.
The feeling of sorrow in the church reached a crescendo at the end of
the funeral when Martin’s family, all dressed in black, carried
his coffin out of the church and into the hearse.
But judging by the outpouring of love from of his family and the esteem
he was held in by his community and friends, Martin’s memory will
never fade.
And he is sure to live on in everyone’s hearts forever.
Martin Dinnegan, who lived in Evershot Road, Finsbury Park, died after
he was stabbed four times in the back shortly after 8.30pm on June 26
at the corner of Tollington Way and Axminster Road, Holloway.
Two weeks on from the 14-year-old’s death, his family, friends and
members of the community packed St. Mellitus Church for a peace vigil.
Martin was only confirmed at the church, where the family are regular
worshippers, in May. |
