Unspeakable grief at funeral for tragic young parents ‘who lit up every room’

Unspeakable grief gripped north Antrim this morning during the the funeral of young parents Brigid Wilkinson and Owen McMullan who have been described “as the life and soul of the party, lighting up every room”.
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Two coffins were laid at the front of the altar in St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Church in Ballycastle side by side - togeher in death as they were united in life.

Mourners, unable to attend the Requiem Mass of the young couple, watched the service online.

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Referring to life as a ‘valley of tears’ in a reflection from the traditional Hail Holy Queen prayer, Fr Brian Daly, P.P of St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s Church in Ballycastle, he said that “life had been a deluge of tears” from Friday evening.

Funeral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.  The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyeFuneral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.  The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
Funeral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Addressing the small number of mourners in the church, Rev Daly said the young couple’s three child - Cadhla, Cliodhna Rose and Eoin Og - were all equally loved.

The cleric added that since their tragic deaths on Friday “there have been so many tears in the close and extended family, so many have been so affected”.

Father Daly said many have been left “heartbroken” and “words cannot explain the loss” at the death of the couple.

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The cleric added that the families of Owen and Brigid now have “so many memories to cherish”.

Owen og McMullan and Brigid WilkinsonOwen og McMullan and Brigid Wilkinson
Owen og McMullan and Brigid Wilkinson

He further prayed for the wider family to help who are now “caring for all the children” left without parents after the tragedy.

Prayers were also said for another woman injured in the road traffic collision and who remains in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The couple were buried together following the funeral service, which was strictly private due to pandemic restrictions.

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Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th February 2021

Funeral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.  The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEyePress Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th February 2021

Funeral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.  The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. 

Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th February 2021 Funeral for Brigid Wilkinson(21) and Owen McMullan(25) at St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Church in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. The couple died in a RTC in Armoy last week. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

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