Northern Ireland

Funeral of Ella Trainor (6) who was killed in Newry crash

St Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint members form a guard of honor at the funeral of Ella Trainor (6) who died in a car accident in Hilltown at the weekend 
St Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint members form a guard of honor at the funeral of Ella Trainor (6) who died in a car accident in Hilltown at the weekend  St Peter’s GAA Club Warrenpoint members form a guard of honor at the funeral of Ella Trainor (6) who died in a car accident in Hilltown at the weekend 

THERE were emotional scenes in a Co Down village as mourners paid their last respects to six-year-old Ella Trainor.

Ella, a P2 pupil at St Patrick's Primary School, was laid to rest in Hilltown following Requiem Mass at St John The Evangelist, Ballymaghery on Wednesday.

Around 800 people packed the church, with main celebrant Canon John Kearney describing the "lovely child" who "put simply, loved life."

Ella died on Saturday after a three-vehicle road crash on the Hilltown Road.

She was a back seat passenger in a Volkswagen car that was in collision with a Seat car and a tractor pulling a trailer loaded with hay bales.

Visibly upset mourners struggled to complete readings and there were tears as gifts including a Clonduff GAA jersey were brought up to the altar.

Canon Kearney said: "This church, over many years, has seen many sad and tragic funerals but few have been as profoundly sad and as sorrowful as today's."

"The death of a child in any circumstances is an occasion of great sorrow but the death of a child as the result of an accident simply beggars our understanding."

"Our hearts cry out in bewilderment. We ask what kind of God would allow a kind and innocent child to be snatched so cruelly from a loving and devoted family? I have no easy answers. Our faith teaches us...... that we hope to see her again."

Members of St Peter's GAC in Warrenpoint, the club of Ella's father, Marty Trainor, formed a guard of honour outside the church.

Canon Kearney said the keen gaelic player, who had wanted to become a vet, had "crowded so much into the six years she was with us."

He said: "Even though her parents came from Warrenpoint, and her father was deeply involved in St Peter’s, not Ella, no, she was a Clonduff girl."

"If everyone around her was happy, then she was happy too. She played with her dolls and teddy bears. Barney, her dog, could do no wrong."

Canon Kearney added: "Ella's family will be grateful to you all; to the emergency services and the staff at Daisy Hill for their professionalism and gentle care of little Ella."

Parish priest Fr Jarlath Cushenan said that he had baptised Ella on his first day in Hilltown, while Ella's teacher, Mrs Cruz, told the crowd: "Her big gorgeous smile was just infectious. There is a space in our classroom that will never be filled."

Singers recited a version of Ella's favourite song, 'Hallelujah' from Leonard Cohen.

A poem read out on behalf of Ella's parents, Marty and Susan, and elder sister Aoife, said: "Ella Bella, all the years you have helped us to laugh, now you have made us cry. Help us to laugh again. We love you lots, like jelly tots."

Tributes were paid to the schoolgirl ahead of her funeral, with a family friend describing here as "our wee Angel Ella".

Another friend said: "So so sad an awful tragedy, poor wee Ella, rest in peace wee angel,words can't even describe it, thoughts and prayers are with you all".

Marty Trainor's GAA club St Peter's said in a statement on its Facebook page: "The registration day has been postponed owing to the very sad death of Ella Trainor, aged six, daughter of Minor Football Mentor Marty Trainor (Blond).

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Marty, Susan and the entire family circle at this very sad time. God rest Ella’s gentle soul."

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie also said: "The untimely death of any individual is always sad, but the death of a child so soon after the Christmas period is particularly poignant.

"My deepest sympathies lie with the parents, family and relatives of this child. There is no doubt that the local community will support this family in their grief and bereavement."