Mum pays tribute to son ahead of funeral

The late Thomas Gallagher and Alana Harkin.

by Louise Doyle

THE mother of a teenage man killed in a collision in Gleneely this week alongside his friend has said his loss has “forever changed their lives”.

Thomas Gallagher and Alana Harkin, both aged 18, who died in the single vehicle collision on their way home from work in the early hours of Monday morning will be laid to rest tomorrow.

The collision occurred at a notorious accident blackspot close to a crossroads and narrow bridge about 2km outside Gleneely on the main R238 road to Culdaff.

Thomas Gallagher, a student of Moville Community College, and Alana Harkin, who worked in a restaurant, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third occupant of the vehicle, a teenage male, was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.

In a beautiful message online, Helen Gallagher said: “Thomas was the light in every room and his loss has forever changed our lives.”

Mrs Gallagher is a niece of Hollywood star Roma Downey, who took to her own social media this week to ask for prayers for the Gallagher and Harkin families.

The Derry-born actress, who stared in ‘Touched by an Angel’, appealed to people to pray for her niece Helen Gallagher and her husband Dominick following the death of their eldest child, Thomas.

“Unspeakable grief for both these families. My sister is Helen’s mom and Thomas was Helen’s first born, and he was such a lovely boy. Kind, thoughtful, funny and smart. My heart breaks for them and I know Thomas will be sorely missed by everyone, his mom and dad, brothers and sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and his whole circle of friends and community.

“He was dearly loved. Please please pray for both these families who lost a child and especially for Helen and Dominick that the Lord will lovingly carry them through this tragedy and comfort their broken hearts,” said Roma.
Retired parish priest in Culdaff, Fr James McGonagle said the double tragedy has profoundly affected the close-knit communities of Culdaff and Moville.

He revealed how Alana beat all odds to live after her premature birth at just six months.

“Alana was always in a rush. She was born three months premature and they thought she wouldn’t make it. She defied all the odds.

“The community is finding it very difficult. They both lived in the Culdaff parish but the Gallagher family is rooted in the Greencastle area.

They came to Culdaff 18 years ago shortly after Thomas was born,” he told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme.

“Thomas was a student in Moville College whereas Alana was in Carndonagh Community School. She had finished her course in June and was planning her future. Thomas was in his final year.

Fr McGonagle urged people to pray for the the parents and families of the young friends as they come to terms with their most devastating of losses.

Funeral mass for Alana Harkin, late of Falmore, Gleneely, will take place tomorrow in St. Mary’s Church, Bocan, Culdaff, followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard.

Poignantly, her family requested that donations in lieu of flowers, if desired, be made to the Neo-Natal Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Meanwhile, Thomas Gallagher’s funeral will take place at 2pm tomorrow. He will be laid to rest in Ballybrack.

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