'Evils' of social media blasted as Ciaran McGurgan laid to rest

THE funeral of well known Armagh estate agent Ciaran McGurgan has heard the ‘evil’ of social media lambasted.

During his homily Fr Peter McAnenly said: “We are very aware dear friends that there is so much good being done in our world each day, but so too is there a lot of evil and again and again we see wickedness being displayed.

“We see it manifest itself in so many ways. Sadly we’re seeing it more and more today in and through social media. What damage it does and what hurt it causes and sadly there are those who use it to try and destroy people or to do great damage to people’s characters.

“I must say I’ve always loved that reading from St John where he told us to think of the love that God has lavished on us by letting us be called God’s children, and while all of us are children of God what we are to be in the future hasn’t yet been revealed. All we know is that when it is revealed we shall be like God and we shall see Him as He really is.

“As we offer our Mass we pray that Ciaran has now seen the face of God and we pray that he may live in His presence forever.”

As the requiem mass got underway on Wednesday morning at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh, Ciaran’s partner Paul brought a photo of them together to a table at the front.

Other gifts brought forward by friends and family included a family picture to represent his love of family, a set of house keys and a riding helmet representing his love of the property business and horses and a picture of his friends to represent his love for them.

Fr McAnenly said: “There was a great sadness here in this community on Saturday night and Sunday morning as the news filtered about Ciaran’s sudden and untimely passing and given the outgoing and very social person that he was and given the many connections that he had it is almost as if a great cloud has been hanging over our community for the last number of days.

“I know that many people have been left stunned and very saddened at the circumstances of his death and whilst many people feel a great sense of loss, that loss is greatest for you his family and his dear friends, and for those who were so close to him.

“I say it again and again, at times like this when words are inadequate and there are no clear answers, at such times it is important that we are there for each other.

“The greatest gift we can offer one another is the gift which Ciaran himself so often gave to many, the gift of the listening ear and the gift of our presence.

“These days are certainly days for his family and many friends to reminisce and to reflect on the great gift of his life.

“And there are days for you to ponder on the good times that were shared with Ciaran and days to give thanks for the great and wonderful memories that he has left.”