News NI
The funeral of a 16-year-old schoolboy who died after getting into difficulty off the County Donegal coast is underway in Buncrana.
Emmanuel Familola was one of two teenagers who lost their lives in the incident outside the town last weekend.
A priest described Emmanuel as “charismatic with an ability to draw people to him”.
Fr Francis Bradley, the parish priest in Buncrana, said he had a “real warmth, stature dignity, and nobility to him”.
Hundreds of people made their way to St Mary’s Oratory in the town to pay their respects.
They included representatives of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the emergency services.
The family of Emmanuel, which includes his mother and two brothers, are said to be heartbroken by his tragic death.
The teenager, who was originally from Nigeria, lost his life alongside his friend Matt Sibanda, 18, who was a native of Zimbabwe.
Their respective schools, Scoil Mhuire and Crana College, said classmates were devastated at the loss of two popular friends.
They have been providing guidance and support to fellow pupils who turned out to attend the Requiem Mass.
Scoil Mhuire Principal Evelyn McLoughlin said last weekend there were no words that could fully capture the pain and sorrow felt by the school community and they were truly heartbroken.
She said Emmanual was known for his warm personality, gentle humour and thoughtful nature.
He was highly regarded by staff and students alike.
‘Source of strength’
The tragedy unfolded last Saturday afternoon after several teenagers got into difficulty at Ned’s Point.
They had been playing football on the beach and had went into the water to retrieve a ball.
Later that evening, the body of Matt Sibanda was recovered from Lough Swilly.
Emmanuel Familola was rescued and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but died in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
A third teenage boy managed to make it back to shore.
Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley said the community had been a great source of strength to the grieving families.
The funeral of Matt Sibanda will take place next week.
Emmanuel was ‘known for his warm personality’
Matt attended Crana College where he had been preparing to sit his leaving certificate exam next month.
School principal Kevin Cooley described his pupil as “the most respectful young man you could ever meet”.
Both teenagers had been living with their families in separate international protection centres in Buncrana.
Last Sunday, hundreds of people attended a vigil for both teenagers at St Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana which was led by the Catholic Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown.
Bishop McKeown, along with the clery in the diocese, extended their condolences to the Familola and Sibanda families.
