Bishop joins parish in tributes to stabbed London teenager

Bishop Bernard Longley, Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of Westminster, has celebrated a special evening Mass at St Mellitus Catholic Church, north London in memory of 14-year-old Martin Dinnegan, who was stabbed to death in the street on 26th June. After the Mass, which took place at 6.30pm yesterday, members of the parish and community leaders took part in a vigil at the corner of Tollington Way and Axminster Road, London, where the stabbing took place. Bishop Bernard said: "The stabbing to death of 14 year old Martin Dinnegan in Islington cut short the life of a teenager deeply loved by his family and friends. A member of the parish of St Mellitus, Tollington Park, London N4, where he had recently been confirmed, and a student at St Aloysius College in Highgate, Martin was a popular boy making a real contribution to the local community. "At the special evening Mass at St Mellitus, which I celebrated together with parish priest Fr David Ardagh-Walter and other priests of the Deanery of Islington, we remembered the life of Martin, offered prayers for his family and for peace and reconciliation in communities affected by violence. "As Auxiliary Bishop with responsibility for Islington Deanery, I offer my deepest sympathy to Martin's family and offer them my prayers to help them find the courage to bear the pain of his death. I would also like to put on record my deep appreciation for the care and sensitive support which the parish community of St Mellitus and the school community of St Aloysius College and of Christ the King primary school, where Martin was formerly a pupil, have given to the Dinnegan family over the last few weeks. At this moment of great sorrow, it is a sign of hope that the local community is able to show others that it stands united in opposition to violence which causes so much sadness to victims and their families." For more information about the parish of St Mellitus, see: www.stmellitus.org.uk/ Source: Archbishop's House