Scottish Catholic Observer

Ten candles have been lit once again in a Glasgow Church in honour of the Clutha crash victims one year after the disaster that sparked the original gesture at St Andrew’s Cathedral Glasgow.

Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow joined religious and political leaders at St Mungo’s Cathedral for the ecumenical memorial on Saturday, one year after of the Police Scotland helicopter crash in Glasgow city centre. Archbishop Tartaglia gave the sermon at the hour-long service at Glasgow Cathedral to a congregation including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Glasgow Lord Provost, Councillor Sadie Docherty and the families of the crash victims, most of who had been patrons of the bar where the Police Scotland helicopter crashed at 10.25pm on November 29 2013, on the eve of St Andrew’s Day.

Members of the mourning families, who await the final report into the crash, expected to be published by the middle of next year, lit the candles on Saturday in memory of their loved ones.

“A year is not yet long enough for many people to come to terms with bereavement, and especially with bereavement which comes from an unexpected tragedy,” Archbishop Tartaglia told them.

He added: “Out of this tragedy we are called to be better, more compassionate, more understanding human beings. And I would hope that we could turn that memory into a legacy, a legacy which would honour the victims of the Clutha Vaults tragedy, so that we can say once and for all that their deaths contributed to Glasgow and Scotland becoming a better place for everyone.”

Pilot David Traill and his passengers, police officers Kirsty Nelis and Tony Collins, lost their lives when the helicopter crashed on the roof of the single story bar. Those killed in the pub were John McGarrigle, Mark O’Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins and Samuel McGhee. Their loved one await the outcome of ongoing inquiries into the cause of the crash. Joe Cusker was rescued from the rubble alive but later died in hospital.

“They have never been forgotten, especially not by those who love them most and who miss them most sorely,” Archbishop Tartaglia said. “I can never pass by the Clutha Vaults without remembering them and recalling what happened, and whispering a Hail Mary.”

On the night of the accident priests from St Andrew’s Cathedral were among the first responders.

—[email protected]

—Read the full version of this story in Dec 5 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.

Pic: PA