Scottish Catholic Observer

The service was led by Rev Jim Zambonini, along with reader Jim Murphy, and the prayers we led by Rev Steve Younger of High Blantyre Baptist Church and Fr Matthew Despard of St John Ogilvie Roman Catholic Church.

Members from church choirs (below) of Blantyre Old Parish, Livingstone Memorial Church, St John Ogilvie Church and Hillhouse Parish Church preformed O Holy Night at the service in front of photo of Reamonn (above) during his time in Thailand at the Good Child Foundation in Thailand, a charity with strong links to Celtic FC, which supports children with Down’s Syndrome.

“Irrespective of whether or not people go to church, Christmas is a time when families and friends come together,” Mark Nolan, organist at Blantyre Old Parish, said. “Yet we can never forgot that Christmas is often one of the most difficult times of the year for many, when people they have lost, are noticeably absent. We had planned this service as a community event and there was no question of what local cause we would support. We can only begin to imagine how the Gormley family are feeling with the events of recent weeks, but they are in everyone’s thoughts, and this service provides one small opportunity for the community to express its support for the Gormley’s at this incredibly difficult time.”

The Church was almost at full capacity on the night and included a delegation from John Ogilvie High School, Reamonn’s former school. Fifteen members of the Gormley family also attended alongside Reamon’s parents.

Two men were sentenced earlier this month to 19 years and eights years respectively for their part in the young student’s death.

His parents have spoken of the ‘trauma and grief’ caused by his killers, after sentencing took place at the High Court in Perth.

Daryn Maxwell, 23, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 19 years for murdering the 19-year-old Glasgow University sports science student by stabbing him repeatedly in an attempted robbery in Blantyre on February 1 this year.

Barry Smith, 19, who had helped plan the robbery, was jailed for eight years and three months after pleading guilty to culpable homicide.

At the time of the attack, Glasgow University student Reamonn had been walking home with his friend David McFall after watching a football match on the te\levision.