The Late Gary McLaughlin & Darren Downey The families of the two young men who were killed in a tragic car accident in Newtowncunningham had a message for young people at the young men's funeral. Gary McLaughlin (21) of Ballymoney and Darren Downey (19) of Pound Cottages died on Sunday morning when the car they were travelling in left the road at Moyle, near Newtowncunningham. A joint funeral for the two men, who were good friends and teammates on the Burt GAA Club was held at St. Aengus Church in Burt. "Both families this morning would like me o say to Darren's and Gary's friends, and to all young people, not to do what their sons did, not to bring home to your parents and family the pain and grief they are suffering now," local curate, Father Michael Porter said in his homily. The young men had attended a birthday party for Gary's father, Eunan on Saturday night. Father Porter said the McLaughlin family' had thought everyone in the house had gone to bed when the boys decided to go out again. More than 1,000 mourners attended the funeral, filling the church and lining the paths outside, where people stood in the rain to listen to the service over speakers. Cars lined the main Letterkenny to Derry road from the church to the Burt cemetery and beyond. Pupils of St. Aengus National School in Bridgend, where Mr Downey's sister, Chloe is in fourth class, formed a colour guard at the chapel. The singer Dana Rosemary Scanlon, who met Darren when he auditioned for the The All-Ireland Talent show last November, sang "Lady of Knock" at the funeral mass. The mass was concelebrated by Father Porter; Father Neil McGoldrick, parish priest of Fahan; Father Kevin O'Doherty of Newtowncunningham; Father Alan Ward, Army Chaplain and Father John Mullen, a friend of the McLaughlin family. Mr McLaughlin and Mr Downey were remembered by Father Porter and others during the mass as young men who were dedicated to their families and to their GAA club, as fun-loving young men who had big hearts. "They were two likable, loveable lively lads," Father Porter said. He said that both had a serious side and had raised a lot of money for charity. The community were deeply saddened " at the loss of two young men with so much potential, with so much to give and so much to live for."Father Porter said. "I would ask their friends to be careful and not to take chances when the outcome might be what we're seeing here today." Mr Downey is survived by his parents, Jackie and Paul, his brother and sisters Johnathan, Shannon, Emma, Rachel and Chloe, grandmother Nellie and grandparents Eileen and James. Mr McLaughlin is survived by his parents Eunan and Evelyn, sisters Louise and Claire and grandparents Mary McDermot and Claire and James Boyce. Father Porter introduced two friends of the young men who also spoke during the mass, Paddy Mulhern and Joseph Boye. Mr Mulhern called the two young men 'two of the most civil and respected men in the area," saying that "behind the two personalities there were two big hearts. The boys were held in high esteem by anyone privileged enough to know them." Mr Boyle, emotion in his voice, said, "One thing I would say about the boys, despite their short lives they lived lift to the full. "You may be gone, boys, but you will never be forgotten," he said. Then, "Rest in peace, lads." After the funeral mass, the coffins covered in the Burt colours of blue and gold, were carried side by side to start the slow journey to the Burt cemetery. There were sounds of open weeping as the coffins were carried past the mourners who were still pouring out of the church. Courtesy of the Donegal Democrat 7th May 2009 Tweet

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