TRAGIC OMAGH BOY LAID TO REST

A GUITAR shaped wreath commemorated teenager Brendan Rushe's love of music yesterday, as his young pals and family said a final farewell to him.

The border town of Castlederg, Co. Tyrone, came to a standstill for the funeral of the 15-year-old schoolboy.

Brendan's body was found in the waters close to Donegal Town pier on Wednesday morning, 10 days after he'd gone missing while attending a mid-term break disco in the town.

Brendan's parents John and Colette and their children Claire, Gemma, Sarah, Paul and Ursula held hands as they led the funeral cortege from their Castlefin Road family home to the nearby St. Patrick's Church where con-celebrated Requiem Mass was held.

Uniformed pupils from Brendan's school, Omagh C.B.S., where he was a year twelve student, joined students from Castlederg's St. Eugene's High School where Mrs. Rushe is a teacher and from Loreto Grammar School in Omagh where two of the dead teenager's sisters attend, to form a guard of honour outside the church.

Many of Brendan's classmates and friends wept openly as his remains were carried into the church for Requiem Mass. As well as family floral tributes, there were several in the shape of a guitar commemorating Brendan's love of playing the guitar.

At the request of the Rushe family, donations in lieu of flowers were made to the Killybegs Coast and Cliff Rescue and to the Bundoran Life Boat Association whose volunteers were among the hundreds of people who took part in the 10-day search for Brendan's body.

Parish priest Fr. Jim McGonagle said the sense of bewilderment felt by the Rushe family was shared by the entire Castlederg community.

"We pray that the support that you demonstrate here by your presence this morning you will continue to give in the times ahead as it will be a great source of comfort to the family.

Fr. McGonagle said the Rushe family wanted to thank the hundreds of people who took part for the search for Brendan, among them members of the Gardai, the PSNI and members of the emergency services on both sides of the border.

"The family are deeply grateful for their support", he said.

Following Requiem Mass, Brendan was buried in the adjoining cemetery.

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