Scottish Catholic Observer

THE response to the Clutha tragedy made Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow ‘proud of my city.’

Archbishop Tartaglia (above) told this to the congregation at a memorial service last Saturday at St Andrew’s Cathedral for the ten people who died in the Clutha helicopter disaster last November.

The archbishop told hundreds of family members and friends of victims, community leaders and government representatives at the hour-long memorial that he knew his words could ‘scarcely put a dent in the grief and loss of the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.’

“But I hope that they show we remember and do not forget; that we have cared and still care; that we prayed and we still pray; that we belong to a city which is full of humanity and compassion; and that even out of this tragedy we are called to be better, more compassionate, more understanding human beings, people who love one another, as Christ asked us to do,” he said.

A candle was lit for each of the victims during a service in Glasgow, held four months to the day after the accident.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (above right), Labour MP Jim Murphy and local council leader Gordon Matheson were among those who attended. Mr Murphy was nearby on the night the police helicopter crashed into the Clutha Bar in Glasgow and he helped at the scene. Police and fire service chiefs Sir Stephen House and Alasdair Hay gave readings at Saturday’s service.

The archbishop, who led the ecumenical memorial service, also spoke about visiting the Clutha in the aftermath of the crash and about all those who helped rescue survivors and sought to bring comfort to others.

“My visit to the crash site was at the point when the wreckage of the helicopter was being extricated from the shattered Clutha Bar to be loaded on to a transporter for delivery to the Air Accident Investigation Branch,” he said. “Even a day or two after the event, I could hardly contain my emotion. The crash site was surreal but it brought home to me the frightening reality of what had happened. I was deeply sorrowful for the victims. Not far away, at the police cordon, people were still coming to pay silent respects and lay flowers and simply to be together in solidarity in a very tragic situation.”

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—This story ran in full in the April 4 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.