Northern Ireland

Funeral held for Derry woman Amy Loughrey killed in Donegal car crash

The funeral of Amy Loughrey at St Columb's Church in Derry on Boxing Day. Amy was killed in a crash at Fahan Co Donegal on Thursday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin 
The funeral of Amy Loughrey at St Columb's Church in Derry on Boxing Day. Amy was killed in a crash at Fahan Co Donegal on Thursday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin  The funeral of Amy Loughrey at St Columb's Church in Derry on Boxing Day. Amy was killed in a crash at Fahan Co Donegal on Thursday night. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin 

MOURNERS at the funeral of a young Derry woman killed in a road crash last week have heard how the "hope and joy of Christmas" had been replaced by "anguish and broken hearts".

St Columb’s Church in the Waterside was packed to capacity on Boxing Day as family and friends gathered to pay their final respects to Amy Loughrey.

The 25 year-old died when her car was involved in a two-vehicle collision at Fahan in Co Donegal on Thursday night.

Ms Loughrey was returning home from work at the Red Door Country House restaurant when the accident happened on the main Derry to Buncrana road around 11pm.

Fr Michael Canny was joined for Requiem Mass on Monday by Fr Sean O’Donnell as well as Derry Church of Ireland minister, Rev Katie McAteer from Ms Loughrey’s father’s home parish of Culmore and Muff.

There were emotional scenes as Ms Loughrey’s coffin was carried to the church by family members with many friends crying openly in the church grounds.

Fr Canny said Ms Loughrey’s young life had been tragically cut short. He said the sadness and sense of loss which was always present was magnified by the celebration of the family feast of Christmas.

He said Ms Loughrey’s family were “de-Christmasing” their home when he arrived along with fellow priest, Fr Sean O’Donnell.

“The lights on the Christmas tree were put out, symbolising how a bright light in the Loughrey family had also been extinguished," he said.

"The hope and joy of Christmas had been replaced by disbelief, anguish and broken hearts because Amy would not be coming home alive again."

Amy Loughrey who was killed in a fatal crash in Co Donegal as she was returning to her home across the border from her work at the Red Door Restaurant in Fahan 
Amy Loughrey who was killed in a fatal crash in Co Donegal as she was returning to her home across the border from her work at the Red Door Restaurant in Fahan  Amy Loughrey who was killed in a fatal crash in Co Donegal as she was returning to her home across the border from her work at the Red Door Restaurant in Fahan 

Fr Canny told mourners the sudden death of a young person went against the natural order. He said her death meant that for many people life would never be the same again.

“Amy who was a bright and radiant light for all who knew her was always generous with her time; she was always kind and thoughtful and empathetic with an infectious smile.

“She loved travelling, worked endless hours so as to be able to go on the next trip. She spent a few years in Gran Canaria teaching English as a foreign language. But no matter where she was she always loved coming back home,” he said.

While her death might be another statistic, Fr Canny said the reality was that the light of a “bubbly, full of life and always giving person” has been extinguished.

“Even though your, the Loughrey family, Christmas lights have been extinguished by the death of Amy, as believers in the risen Christ we have the light of faith, a light that nothing can put out,” he said.