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Thousands mourn victims of bus tragedy

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The funerals of Deirdre Scanlon, 17, and Claire McCluskey, 18, took place on Thursday morning, while the funerals of Sinead Ledwidge, 17, and Lisa Callan, 15, were held in the afternoon.
The funeral of Amy McCabe, 15, took place on Friday, May 27.
Father Peter Farrelly described Deirdre as a true character. He said she would be missed by her two grandmothers with whom she spent a lot of time.
“The number of years is not the true measure of life,” he said.
At Sinead’s funeral Fr. Farrelly said, “All the glory that she brought to her school [was] suddenly brought to an end. We say such promise, such a waste, such a tragedy.
“Let no-one tell me that Sinead’s life was a waste. She gave such joy,” he said.
At Claire McCluskey’s funeral Father John Brogan said the community had been devastated by her death.
“It has affected us all very deeply,” he said.
He said Claire was a beautiful, intelligent girl and that her family could take great comfort in the fact that she would be sharing eternal life and peace today.
Father Brogan said Lisa would be remembered in peoples’ hearts and minds as “the lively character she was.”
“She was outgoing, loved everybody, cared for everybody and had time for everyone,” he said.
The girls attended St Michael’s Loreto Convent School in Navan and nearby Beaufort College. Four of them had been due to sit Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams later this month.
Businesses in Navan closed during the funerals as a mark of respect while a special mass was held in St Mary’s Church.
Investigations into the bus-crash have been carried out by Gardai, the Health and Safety Authority and officials from the national transport organization, CIE.
The bus landed on its side following a collision on the road between Navan and Kentstown shortly after 4pm on Monday May 23.
The bus was carrying 51 children from four schools in the surrounding area when it was involved in a collision with two other cars near the site of temporary traffic-lights. The road was under-going resurfacing work.
The bus driver involved last week visited the families of the five girls to offer his sympathies within hours of being released from hospital.
The father of Claire McCluskey said his heart went out to John Hubble who is thought to have broken through the bus? front wind-screen in order to help children to escape from the wreckage.

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