Scotland: Bishop comforts Barra families of teenagers caught in Manchester attack

Barra Island - Wiki image - Kloniwotski

Source: SCMO

The Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, Bishop Brian McGee has travelled to the island of Barra to visit the families of Eilidh MacLeod and Laura MacIntyre. Both teenagers attended the concert at the Manchester Arena on Monday night, where a suicide bomber killed 22 and injuring 64 concertgoers. Laura MacIntyre, 15, is in hospital with serious injuries, while her friend Eilidh MacLeod, 14, is still missing.

Bishop McGee joined local Parish Priest, Fr John Paul MacKinnon visiting relatives of both girls last night and saying Mass for the families this morning (Wednesday). After Mass the Bishop and Fr John Paul visited Castlebay High School, where both girls were pupils, to speak to teachers and staff.

Bishop McGee said: “This is a time of terrible anguish for the MacLeod and MacIntyre families. Spending time with the relatives of both girls was a reminder of the human cost of acts of terror. Such acts leave families broken, lives scarred and innocence destroyed, my thoughts and prayers are with the families at this traumatic time.”

Fr. John Paul MacKinnon said: “Barra is an island of close bonds and deep faith. The ripples of pain spreading out from the terrible events in Manchester on Monday night are amplified here in such a small community. While everyone in the community is affected, it is the families of Eilidh and Laura who are in the greatest pain. The Church joins with the whole community in praying for them and offering them every support.”