By 
A PRIEST at the funeral of the young Tyrone man, Patrick McGinn, who died as a result of injuries sustained in a road traffic collision has urged his family and friends to draw comfort from their memories of him.
Fr Pat Hannigan was speaking at the Requiem Funeral Mass for the 21-year-old Killeeshil student in St Patrick’s Church, Aughnagar, on Thursday.
“This awful tragedy has touched the lives of so many of our families and has renewed or opened old wounds once healed,” he said.
“So many memories. So much life and light brought into this family by Patrick. These are the qualities which are unmeasured by time and I am sure you all have your own memories of Patrick.
“He has gone from our sight into the loving arms of God, into the kingdom of Heaven. Patrick remains with us, through the memories, the love and the prayer of all of us.”
Fr Hannigan also revealed that, following his tragic death, Patrick’s organs had given the gift of life to six other people.
“Patrick was an organ donor and his organ donation has meant that six people have been given the gift of life and hope and out of this awful tragedy comes that knowledge that God is with us,” Fr Hannigan said.
“He was a fairly laid-back, horizontal kind of lad. He let nothing disturb him. He was never busy, just moving along.
“Patrick was an avid reader – his Kindle was totally filled with books. He loved covering all kinds of subjects – from statistics about American football and baseball to philosophy and science.”
Hundreds of people lined the route of the cortege as it made its way from the family home at Cramlome Road to the church.
Patrick was a former pupil of St Mary’s Cabragh and St Ciaran’s Ballygawley and was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining St Patrick’s Church.
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