The South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF) held its annual service of remembrance and thanksgiving in Pettigo last Sunday, October 6.

The service in its seventh year was on the theme “Terrorism knows NO Borders” and was celebrated at Templecarne Parish Church by the Reverend Charles Eames alongside preacher Reverend Canon Ngozi Njoku.

During the service a victim testimony was read out by David Kelly, the son of Private Patrick Kelly, Irish Defence Forces who was killed during the rescue of kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey.

A dedication quilt, with 27 new patches remembering 34 innocents of terrorism murdered in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Great Britain was unveiled and the names of those on it were read out by Albert Walsh and Barbara McGinley who each had brothers murdered.

Speaking in the aftermath of the event, SEFF’s Director of Services Kenny Donaldson stated: “This year’s Service was particularly poignant in that it was held in The Republic of Ireland for the first time, well over 300 people gathered to be part of a Service which brought together innocents from across the community and from across Borders”.

“The recurring message from today’s event was that when innocent victims unify together across religious and ethnic divides that there is immense power in their collective voice.

“Let us be clear; there was never justification for the use of terrorism and/or criminal violence in the furtherance of or defence of a political objective, the dehumanising of people (often neighbour upon neighbour) was futile and wrong”.

“SEFF were privileged to host 20 victims/survivors from Great Britain and Republic of Ireland this weekend, many of whom had never before visited Northern Ireland previously. We hope and pray that those who came to Fermanagh/Donegal this weekend will return to their homes and families with the comfort of knowing that they are part of a larger family - The SEFF family.”

“They and their families are not forgotten by those who have walked in their shoes or who have the care to want to understand what life has been and is for them,” concluded Mr. Donaldson.