Published: Thursday, 3rd September, 2009 9:00am

A chance to honour Paul's life

by Editorial Department

Comments (0) | Print | Email

John Maxwell (centre) with his son Robbie and wife Marion.

30 years may have passed but the hurt and torment caused by one of the darkest days in Irish history is still fresh in the minds of so many.

The bomb in Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, shocked the world. On 27 August 1979 at 11.15am, the IRA detonated a bomb killing 79-year-old Lord Louis Mountbatten, cousin of the Queen, together with his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas and 15-year-old Fermanagh teenager Paul Maxwell.

The 83-year-old Dowager Baroness Brabourne died later from her injuries after the bomb exploded on board Mountbatten's 'Shadow V'.

Last Thursday, a special 30th anniversary memorial service took place in the Star of the Sea church in Mullaghmore, as relatives of the deceased, former employees of Lord Mountbatten and visitors gathered to reflect on the day that defined history.

The Rev Noel Regan, who used to work for Lord Mountbatten as chauffeur and archivist, at his Hampshire estate before entering the church, said of the tragedy: "For many, including myself, there was embarrassment, anger and upset that this was done in our name."

"There was a sense of hopelessness and above all shame that this could have happened here in Ireland, particularly to someone who had been through so much as a world statesman."

The Church of Ireland rector, now based in Belleek, added: "It was a desecration of human life and also of a sanctuary - this sacred place set apart as a refuge by so many people over the years who loved Mullaghmore and came here for holidays and rest."

For Paul Maxwell's grieving father John, it was a chance to honour the life of his son.

In an emotional tribute, John recited a moving poem he wrote during a visit to Mullaghmore last year. He explained how he was inspired to write it by two birds that flew close to him as he looked out at the sea where his son died.

"They came straight towards me and seemed to stop as if they wished to communicate something. It was almost as if they were reincarnations of the two boys [Paul and Nicholas]. It had a deep emotional effect."

Reciting Easter Sunday Mullaghmore (2008)(for Nicholas and Paul), he said:

"Two fulmars upward soared

From black Thumb Rock

And in the wind held fast.

The first one

Met me eye to eye

And seemed to wish to say -

I know not what.

Both wheeled away with plaintive cry

But turned again against the sky

And high above my head

Looked down.

I left,

Trudged slowly up the hill;

That eye, that glimpse,

They haunt me still".

His daughters, Donna and Lisa, laid a wreath at the altar beside a picture of their brother Paul and each of the victims of the bombing - which each had a candle flickering in front of them.

Other participants in the service included Lord Mountbatten's former bodyguard, Garda Superintendent Michael Barrett who read a verse from the Bible.

The poignant service ended with two minutes' silence and a bugler playing the 'Last Post' at the chapel door.

Earlier in the day, a small group of villagers gathered overlooking the spot where the disaster occurred and a church bell tolled 30 times to mark the anniversary at 11.50am, the exact time the bomb went off.