Over 1,000 gather for Drimnagh vigil

ONLY THE sound of a distant alarm and passing aircraft broke the silence. For five minutes they stood silently on a foul night with driving wind and rain, conditions that reflected the sombre mood of the crowd.

At 6.30pm on Saturday, a week since Pavel Kalite and Marius Szwajkos were stabbed to death outside a chip shop in Drimnagh, independent councillor Joan Collins read a statement that was conveyed to a huge crowd by a speaker perched on the bonnet of a car.

She spoke of how shocked and appalled local people were by the "vicious, violent and senseless act" that led to their deaths.

She also reflected the views of those in the crowd who knew who carried out the murder. "The community is calling on those responsible to come forward, admit their guilt and show remorse," she said.

Fr Martin Cosgrove, the parish priest of Mourne Road church, spoke of "a very painful moment in our history", and then it was the turn of Fr Jaroslaw Tomaszewski of the Polish chaplaincy.

He thanked the people of Ireland for welcoming Polish migrants to Ireland. "We are sure that there is nothing that can break our friendship and the good relations here in Ireland," he said.

He and Fr Christopher Homa, a Jesuit at St Francis Xavier's church in Gardiner Street, then led the Polish people in reciting Ojcze Nasz (Our Father) followed by a Polish hymn.

Gardaí estimate that more than 1,000 people attended the vigil. Among them were the five local TDs and MEP Gay Mitchell.

The gate outside the rented house across from the parade of shops where the men lived was turned into a makeshift shrine. A Polish flag was draped across the railings and both Polish and local people left flowers, lighted candles, Mass cards and even an envelope with the message "For the families of the boys".

The response of local people has been exceptional. The collection buckets in the parade of shops on Benbulben Road have been stuffed with €10 and €20 notes.

The family of Marius Szwajkos issued a statement following the vigil thanking everybody for their help and support.

"We are very grateful and appreciative of the number of condolences received from both Polish and Irish nationals over last few days who think of us in this time of sadness," the said.

"There are no frontiers for evil and right. We've lost a part of our life for ever and it will no longer be the same. We would like to believe that the tragic death of two young men will not turn out to be senseless and will result in public discussion about the increasing level of aggression among the youth."

A special memorial Mass takes place at Mourne Road church at 7.30pm tomorrow, which will be attended by President Mary McAleese, Polish ambassador Dr Tadeusz Szumowski and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin.