Community ‘united in sorrow’ as vigil held for man killed in stabbing
H
undreds have gathered at a vigil for Conor Browne, a father from Strabane who died after being stabbed in Castlederg on the weekend.
Mr Browne, 28, was attacked throughout an evening out with pals within the Co Tyrone city on Saturday.
He was taken to hospital with extreme accidents however died on Monday.
Members of the Castlederg and Strabane communities gathered on the Diamond in Castlederg city sq., the place a lorry that belonged to Mr Browne was arrange.
In the again of the lorry was an image of the father-of-one in a big coronary heart surrounded by lights.
Parish priest Father Paul Fraser spoke to the gang and Mr Browne’s household, who attended just about.
Fr Fraser mentioned the neighborhood was united in sorrow along with his household.
“The outpouring of grief that has been evident in our community over these past couple of days bears witness to how much Conor Browne was loved,” he mentioned.
“We have felt overwhelmed by sadness and loss. Shocked indeed that such a thing could happen in our wee town, that happened in the small hours of Saturday morning, the tragic events unfolded just a few steps from where we’re standing.
Conor was a friend to everyone and we want his friends to remember Conor and his smile and that hopefully will help them over the pain of what they witnessed here on Saturday morning
“Our sense of shock and loss is nothing compared to what’s being felt by Conor’s family.
“This evening we gather to send a message of love and support to his parents Geraldine and Matt, his son Cobie, his sisters Sinead and Grace, and his brothers Seamus and Andrew and the whole family circle of Brownes and Collins, and we want them to know that as a community we are united with them in sorrow.
“Conor was a friend to everyone and we want his friends to remember Conor and his smile and that hopefully will help them over the pain of what they witnessed here on Saturday morning.
“While Conor was fighting for his life in hospital in Belfast the whole community here in Castlederg and Aghyaran and beyond stormed heaven with prayers for Conor and his family.
“We prayed for one thing, that Conor would survive and recover. It wasn’t to be.”
A minute’s silence was held and the service ended as Fast Car by Luke Combs was performed, a track Fr Fraser mentioned was one among Mr Browne’s favourites.
SDLP MLA for West Tyrone Daniel McCrossan mentioned it was an “extremely difficult” day for the neighborhood.
“You can feel it here in Castlederg, the community are united in their condemnation of all violence,” he mentioned.
“This was a brutal, terrible act that has claimed the life of a young man and left devastating and profound consequences for his child and for his family, and indeed for the many people who knew and loved him in this community and beyond.
“From social media, you can see that he is very widely loved and well known, and the consequences of what has occurred here in recent days has hit this community very, very hard and first and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time and his friends.”
Mr McCrossan mentioned that Mr Browne’s loss of life would have “rippling consequences”, however that Castlederg is a protected city.
“It is a hugely shocking thing and the rippling consequences of it have reached many places but I would like to reassure people that it is no reflection of this area,” he mentioned.
“This is a good decent, hard-working, quiet, tight-knit community. And this one act, although very terrible, is no reflection of daily life here.
“This is a safe place, but certainly in the aftermath of what has happened there will need to be conversations with the PSNI, community workers, to see how we can better protect people at night in our town centres.
“But certainly I would like to reassure people that Castlederg is a good place to do business to shop, to live. It’s safe. It’s a tight knit community.”
Before the vigil floral tributes have been positioned on the website the place Mr Browne was killed.
The organisers of the occasion, Darkness into Light Castlederg, mentioned in a publish that Mr Browne’s loss of life had despatched a darkish cloud over the neighborhood.
“Our town of Castlederg was sent into a sense of shock, disbelief, anger and sorrow over the last few days. The news that broke yesterday that Conor had passed away has put a dark cloud over our town,” the publish learn.
“Conor was a much loved Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and a brilliant friend to so many people. Conor’s death has affected everyone who had the pleasure of knowing this great fella and it has affected people whom never had the privilege of meeting him.
“We as a community want to show our support and solidarity to Conor’s immediate family and to the Browne and Collins family circle.
“We want to let the people know that all the good work that has been done in our town is not going to be undone by this vile act.”