Nora Quoirin described as ‘gentle and innocent’ at funeral following death in Malaysian jungle
Written by News on 10/09/2019
A vulnerable teenager from London who died in a Malaysian jungle has been described at her funeral as “gentle and innocent”.
Fifteen-year-old Nora Quoirin, who had learning difficulties, went missing from her hotel room on 4 August during a family holiday in the resort of Dusun.
Her parents claimed she had been abducted, insisting she would not have wandered off alone – but police in the country said they found no evidence of foul play.
Nora was found dead 10 days after she vanished.
A post-mortem examination revealed she died from internal bleeding, probably caused by hunger and stress.
On Tuesday her body was cremated and a service held at the church in Belfast where she was baptised as a baby.
Addressing a large congregation at St Brigid’s, Father Edward O’Donnell – who was joined by Nora’s great uncle, Father Pat Kelly – described her as “very special” as well as “gentle and innocent”.
He said: “Nora brought so much joy to Meabh and Sebastien, to her sister, Innes, and to Maurice her brother, and to those of the wider family circle.
“She, as we all know, depended greatly on others but, Nora in turn gifted others with immeasurable love and joy – before such an ability we can only feel gratitude.”
Father O’Donnell said Nora’s death was “tragic” – and that the packed church was “united in the unspeakable pain of Nora’s death” – and had “wordless sympathy” for her family.
He continued: “I ask myself, as surely you must do: ‘What is the meaning of this terrible pain that has been inflicted on Nora’s family?’
“We have, have we not, found ourselves wondering: if God is good and has for us the love that no human love can match, why then is there such suffering in our world?
“We do not understand, and our stumbling words are so terribly inadequate.”
He concluded: “Meabh and Sebastien, Innes and Maurice – remember Nora’s love for you, and know that she still loves you, and as you continue to love her, love one another.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Nora Quoirin described as ‘gentle and innocent’ at funeral following death in Malaysian jungle
