Hundreds gather to mourn stab victim

HUNDREDS OF mourners joined the family of murdered student Sebastian Creane for his removal in Bray, Co Wicklow last night.

The 22-year-old art and design student died last Sunday after he was stabbed by Shane Clancy, a TCD student from South Dublin.

Clancy also seriously injured Dylan Creane, the deceased’s brother and Jennifer Hannigan, his ex-girlfriend, at the Creane family home on Cuala Grove in Bray.

Both Dylan Creane and Jennifer Hannigan were well enough to attend the Church of the Holy Redeemer on the town’s Main Street for the removal.

Earlier in the day, Mr Creane’s body had reposed in the chapel of St Gerard’s School, a private day school on the outskirts of Bray where he was a former pupil.

Many school friends and friends from the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, where Mr Creane was studying, attended the tiny chapel.

His parents, James and Nuala and his brother Dylan sat next to Mr Creane’s open wickerwork casket as mourners queued to express their sympathies with them. Mrs Creane managed to comfort many of her son’s tearful former classmates as they paid their respects. Candles were lit and placed on stands at either side of the entrance to the chapel. And the young people passed around a scrapbook containing photos of Mr Creane.

Mourners flowed in and out of the chapel for most of the afternoon before the remains were moved to Bray parish church.

Drizzling rain turned to sunshine as the casket, covered in flowers and foliage, was carried into the church by family members.

Parish Priest Fr George Begley welcomed the Creanes, and their cousins, uncles, aunts and friends to the church where the stabbing victim had been confirmed 10 years previously.

He told the family that people had come to share in their grief and prayed that their burden would be lightened.

He said “Seb” had contributed to the life and spirit of St Gerard’s school and they mourned the death of one so young.

When the service was over, mourners queued down the centre aisle and into the porch so that they could offer their sympathies to the grieving family sitting in the front row. Books of condolence were filled with names of those who attended including composer Phil Coulter and his family, who were friends of the Creanes.

Funeral Mass for Mr Creane will be held at 10am today. His remains will then be moved to St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina Co Mayo. A prayer service will be followed by burial at Leigue Cemetery in Ballina.