The parents of schoolgirl Tara Whelan offered prayers for peace at their daughter's funeral Mass yesterday, and urged people against believing "their cause is more important than another person's life".
Restating their forgiveness of the bombers who killed their 17-year-old daughter in an explosion at the Turkish resort of Kusadasi last Saturday, Tony and Frances Whelan called for a change in "the politics of those . . . who create, condone or extend" conflict.
The message of peace was read at the end of an emotional ceremony at St Nicholas's Church in Ballyduff, Co Waterford, close to the girl's family home.
Hundreds of people crowded into the small hilltop church, and hundreds more formed an orderly ring around the grounds outside, listening to the service on loudspeakers.
Classmates of the deceased from the Mercy Convent Secondary School in Waterford city formed a guard of honour in the bright sunshine, while the church choir, with which Tara had once sung, performed some of her favourite songs.
One of teenager's close friends, Lindsey Gagley, who had accompanied her on "the holiday of a lifetime", paid tribute in an opening address.
Ms Gagley recalled being brought into "a small, white room" where she had to identify the body of her friend, whose life had been taken away by "selfish and inconsiderate people". She said: "Tara was nobody's enemy, only a friend to everyone."
Echoing these thoughts, parish priest Fr Michael O'Byrne said in his homily: "Tara Whelan knew what it was to give. She gave freely her smile, her time, her patience, her musical talents. She impressed everyone she met. This girl's open smile and friendly spirit was a joy to everybody who knew her.
"When her young life was so ruthlessly ended last week, she was on her way to buy gifts for her family and friends at home."
The teenager was remembered by symbols from her life, including a family photograph, a school jumper, a tin whistle, and a single rose which, "like Tara had a short and beautiful life and gave so much joy in a short time", Fr O'Byrne remarked. In a concluding poem, Tanza O'Dea, another of the teenager's friends, described how Tara "loved and was loved by everyone".
Prayers for peace ran through the service, among them the following: "Tara grew up in a climate of love, in a spirit of Christian forgiveness. We pray for those who plant bombs to cause death and destruction."
President Mary McAleese was represented by her aide de camp Col Ray King, and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern by his aide de camp Comdt Michael Murphy.
Also in attendance were: Minister for Transport and local TD Martin Cullen, representing the Government; Turkish embassy representative Korhan Kungeru; Church of Ireland Bishop for Cashel and Waterford Dr Peter Barrett; senior members of the Garda; and other public representatives.
Monsignor Michael Olden, the Vicar General of the Diocese, read out a message of support for the family from Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Dr William Lee. The retired diocesan bishop, Dr Michael Russell, presided at the Mass.
A final prayer from the family said: "Great God of peace, bless Ireland and bless those countries where there is civil strife, where neighbour rises up against neighbour, where familiar streets become battlefields, and familiar people the casualties . . . By the power of the Cross, help all who sin to repent, and all who have been sinned against to forgive, that peace may come."
Tara's parents, sisters Marianne and Lisa and brothers Frank and Anton clutched one another as they left the church, and followed the coffin to a neighbouring graveyard where the teenager was buried.