Opinion

Thoughts of everyone with Reilly and Rodgers families

The tragic deaths of young newlyweds John and Lynette Rodgers has caused shock throughout Northern Ireland and devastation to their family and friends.

Post mortems were carried out yesterday after the couple drowned at Plettenberg Bay in South Africa, just a short time after arriving at their honeymoon hotel on Friday.

It is believed they were caught in a rip tide while swimming. South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute said sea conditions at the time were rough with strong rip-currents in the vicinity.

Those who knew the young couple are understandably stunned at the shocking turn of events. Only six days before they died the pair had celebrated their wedding in front of friends and relatives at First Presbyterian Church in Holywood followed by a reception at the Ballygalley Castle Hotel near Larne.

Their wedding photographs showed a young couple full of love and happiness. Before heading off on honeymoon, Mrs Rodgers thanked everyone for their good wishes, saying they had ``the best day ever.''

Poignantly, she added they would "speak to everyone when we return''.

For such a joyful occasion to turn so swiftly to unbearable sadness is hard for many people to contemplate.

With local people rallying round the families of the young couple, the focus now will be on bringing their bodies back to Northern Ireland.

Hopefully, this is a process which will take no longer than necessary. Colin Bell, who set up the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust which offers assistance to families suffering bereavement abroad, has already been in contact with Lynette's widowed mother Eva Reilly.

Such support and advice is invaluable at a time of enormous grief and hopefully the families will also receive all possible help from the foreign office and South African authorities.

The thoughts of the entire community will be with the Reilly and Rodgers families as they prepare to bring their children home.