The husband of Co Tyrone murder victim Attracta Harron has been remembered at his funeral for the strength and faith he showed following the loss of his wife.
Michael Harron was laid to rest on Monday at St Patrick`s Cemetery in Murlog, following a funeral Mass at Strabane’s Church of the Immaculate Conception.
The 86-year-old died on Saturday, over 20 years after his wife was murdered.
Mrs Harron, a retired librarian from Strabane, was 65 when she went missing in December 2003 after attending Mass.
After searches over the following months, her body was recovered in April 2004 in a shallow grave, days after then 21-year-old Trevor Hamilton from the Sion Mills area was charged with her murder.
In 2006, Hamilton became the first person in the north to receive a whole life ariff for the murder, but the sentence was later reduced at the Court of Appeal to 35 years before he can be considered for parole.
A death notice for Mr Harron described him as the “beloved husband of the late Attracta, much loved father of Camille, Micheal, Feargal, Brienin and Eilis, dearly loved grandfather of Joseph, Mary-Tess, Tom, George, Wil, Scarlet and Michael and brother of Margaret, Jim, Martin, Eugene, Liam, Terry, Philomena, John and the late Pat, Joe, Brendan and Peter”.
Speaking at Monday’s funeral, priest Fr Declan Boland said Mr Harron was a regular Mass-goer who attended every day when he was able, and was someone who “lived for his family”, “adored his grandchildren” and was with loved ones at a large family reunion just days before he died.
He said Mr Harron losing his wife in “appalling” circumstances 20 years ago “would have felled a lesser person”.
“He didn’t let that tragedy define him,” the priest added.
“In the face of huge tragedy and loss, he continued to be the source of great admiration.”
