Hundreds of mourners yesterday attended the funeral in Switzerland of 17-year-old Manuela Riedo, who was murdered in Galway 12 days ago.
The Irish Ambassador to Switzerland, James Sharkey, and Mayor of Galway Tom Costello were among those present for the ceremony at the Reformed Church in Wohlen, a suburb of Berne, the Swiss capital.
Mr Sharkey, representing the Government, emphasised that anything he could say about the situation would be inadequate.
"Nothing can be said to ease this pain and grief . . . our hearts are with the poor parents. All of Ireland mourns with them and it would be wrong of me to go beyond that because words cannot heal this terrible wound. The feeling here is one of deep distress, a sense of devastation and loss for one so innocent, so young and so beautiful," he said.
Mr Costello echoed the ambassador's sentiments. "Words are not enough on an occasion like this . . . but our presence and silent way can hopefully take the message across of what we are doing here," he said.
The picturesque church, overlooking rolling hills and a lake, quickly filled up, resulting in some mourners having to be accommodated in an adjacent building.
Most people attending were Ms Riedo's young friends, who all looked deeply upset. Most carried red roses into the church.
The funeral was to honour Manuela as the "priceless treasure" she was while alive, said parish leader Barbara Kückelmann. The service included the teenager's favourite song at the time of her death (James Blunt's 1973) and a dance by her friends.
Ms Riedo was a popular teenager, who had "a smile for everyone" and was passionate about music and dance, the congregation was told.
While conducting the service in German, Ms Kückelmann said that the mourners were united by anger and loss and that their presence was a protest at the crime that took Ms Riedo away.
"She was too young . . . a tender friend, a good daughter, a conscientious student, who had made many plans for her future. What will life be like now without her?" she asked.
This message was echoed by her friends, some of whom also spoke. They called Manuela "a wonderful friend, who left too early" and described her as "the person who cheered them up".
Ms Riedo's parents, Hans and Arlette, kept a low profile throughout the service. They sat together in the front row, wiping away tears. Mrs Riedo turned around only once to gaze intently at the mourners filling the church behind her seat. This was as a Swiss German song was played at her and her husband's request. Ewige Liebi or Eternal Love, the title of this popular love song, showed "how we feel and think about Manuela", said Ms Kückelmann.
Many people cried for the best part of the two-hour service. Others were unable to raise their voices during the hymns and the sound of sobbing was frequently perceptible.
Ms Kückelmann also addressed a few words in English to the Irish people present. "We pray for all those in Ireland and those here. Let them be connected. [God] does not leave them alone in their mourning," she said.
After the service, Ms Riedo's friends released hundreds of balloons into the air just outside the church to "let Manuela go", as Ms Kückelmann put it.
Prior to the service, the mayor of Wohlen, Christian Müller, had stressed that Ireland was not to blame. "Ireland is not responsible for this tragedy. It was the act of a single perpetrator," he said.
He also praised the Irish authorities for their "impressive" and "highly professional" efforts to solve the crime. Ms Riedo is to be cremated and her ashes interred at a later date during a private ceremony.