Pastor recalls 'kind and popular boy'

Hundreds of cars took the hill road from Buncrana to Quigley's Point yesterday, following the funerals of Darren Quinn, Gavin…

Hundreds of cars took the hill road from Buncrana to Quigley's Point yesterday, following the funerals of Darren Quinn, Gavin Duffy and Rochelle Peoples, to attend the funeral of a fourth victim. Most of the cars slowed upon passing the scene of Saturday's accident, where flowers had been placed.

At Greenbank Presbyterian Church, the Rev Gilbert Young was joined by Fr Con McLoughlin to receive the remains of David Steele (23) into the church following a short service in his home at Three Trees, Quigley's Point. The church was unable to accommodate the huge number of mourners and a public address system had been set up to allow the hundreds in the churchyard to hear the final prayers and hymns.

Mr Young recalled David's birth in February of 1982 and his late mother Elisia, who died when he was young.

He remembered his baptism and his attendance at Sunday school and bible class.

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He said was a kind and popular boy who became a plasterer by trade and worked hard. He said that one time David left his mobile phone in a taxi when he went to Dublin one week and the taxi man said there were 250 missed calls plus texts - he was a popular boy with a lot of friends.

"He and Rochelle loved each other and both their families adopted each of them. It is the fear of every parent to get a message in the middle of the night to say your son or daughter has been in an accident. There will be many parents saying to their children, 'do you not see why I worry about you when you are out even if you are a good driver?' " Mr Young said.

David Steele was buried in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Charlene O'Connor, the fifth victim, will be buried today following requiem Mass in St Mary's Church, Cockhill, Buncrana.