Community is united as tragic Emmanuel buried

Funeral of 16-yr-old watched online in Nigeria

- BY STEPHEN MAGUIRE

A PRIEST at the first funeral of two friends who lost their lives while swimming has asked people not to judge actions which may have led to their tragic deaths.

Emmanuel Famiola, 16, and his friend Matt Siband, 18, died when an innocent swim on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon on Lough Swilly, Co Donegal, last weekend turned to unimaginable tragedy.

Reports have suggested the men went into the water to retrieve a ball but got into difficulty.

Parish priest of Buncrana, Fr Francis Bradley told mourners at Emmanuel's funeral mass at St Mary's Church that nobody should judge the actions which have brought so much heartache to so many people.

He said: "None of us can judge the actions which led to such a calamitous tragedy. If hindsight were foresight, wed all have insight.