Lesley-Ann laid to rest today

In his sermon Rev Tony Davidson paid tribute to Lesley-Ann as a ‘unique person’ of whom her parents James and Liz were justly proud.

The Armagh teenager was knocked down while running on Saturday afternoon.

Opening his address Rev Davidson said, “About 12 noon on Saturday Lesley-Ann McCarragher slipped on her running gear. She stepped out of the house and she ran. It was reported that she was jogging. For the record, Lesley-Ann did not jog. Lesley-Ann did power running.

“She ran fast with music in her ears, a smile on her face, elegance in her stride, and joy on her heart. Her legs pumped, her arms flailed, her pony tail bobbed.

“After the run, she looked forward to absorbing more information from her books, having lunch with her family, and later that evening dressing up for a meal out with her cousin Emma.

“On Saturday, Lesley-Ann was ready to step outside the safety of her home and plunge into life. She would emerge from childhood ready to take on the world. Sadly she did not return. Her life was tragically cut short.”

Rev Davison added, “All of her life Lesley-Ann had been in training. She was born on 25th October, 1996. On 1st December 1996 she was baptized in this church. I carried her around these aisles, welcoming her into the embrace of this community of faith.

“Her parents gave her a unique name and Lesley-Ann grew up as a unique person. Her training was provided primarily by James and Liz. You did a great job. You have every right to be proud of your four girls. Lesley-Ann felt loved, appreciated, and nurtured in your home.

“It was in the home she learnt to share with her sisters, stand up for herself, and welcome others. Lesley-Ann was also nurtured in the wider Murray and McCarragher families. Uncles and aunts loved her, cared for her, and teased her. She had a ready made group of friends in a coterie of cousins around the same age as herself.”

Lesley-Ann was knocked down while out running on the Monaghan Road in Armagh on Saturday.

A 17-year-old boy has appeared in Court charged with dangerous driving.