Nobility and care of soldier noted at burial

He was a "fear iontach, βlainn" with a nobility about him and a concern for his community.

He would often inquire about his elderly neighbours on phone calls home, and one of those neighbours still carried a letter he had received from him some months ago.

Yesterday a young man who had "something special" about him "finished his own journey", in the words of an tAthair Eamonn ╙ Conghaile, parish priest of T∅r an Fhia, at the funeral Mass for Pte Peadar ╙ Flatharta.

More than a thousand people came to pay their respects, and to walk the four miles in bright sunshine behind the gun carriage from the church to the final resting place at Trβ Bβn, while the band of the 4th Western Brigade played Bron and Celtic Lament.

Among the many was an East Timorese student, Mr JosΘ Lopez, and Mr Tom Hyland of the East Timor Solidarity Campaign. Pte ╙ Flatharta (21) had been just two months in that country as a UN peacekeeper when he died in an accidental shooting.

He would be a great loss to his family, his community and to the young woman he went out with, Father ╙ Conghaile said, as he described how Pte ╙ Flatharta was always on hand to help out with local building projects or anything else that was going on. He had no interest in money or material goods, he said.

He had already completed one tour of duty abroad, in Lebanon, and had been part of the contingent from the 1st Infantry Battalion (An Chead Cathlan Coisithe) based at Dun U∅ Mhaoiliosa barracks in Renmore, Galway, which was reviewed at the Spanish Arch just over two months ago.

Letters he had sent home, a christening candle, a photograph of his family, a peacekeeping badge and a Bible were among the offertory gifts at the ceremony.

The President, Mrs McAleese, and her husband, Martin, led the official attendance.

The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Ger O'Grady, and the Government was represented by the Minister of State for Rural Development and local TD Mr Eamon ╙ Cuiv.

Military mourners were led by the Chief-of-Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Colm Mangan, the GOC 4th Western Brigade, Brig Gen Fred Swords, and the Officer Commanding 1st Infantry Battalion, Lieut Col Patrick Moran.

As the coffin approached the graveyard, it paused briefly at the young Army private's family home.

At the graveside, prayers were recited by Father John McMahon, chaplain to the Defence Forces. The Tricolour, UN flag, Pte ╙ Flatharta's blue UN beret and his East Timor peacekeeping medal were presented to his family, and his coffin was lowered into the rocky soil.