Tara Whelan

Tara Whelan (Irish: Tara Ó Faoiliain) was a 17-year-old Irish student who was killed along with four other civilians, three Turks and a Briton, in a terrorist attack in July 2005, while on holiday in the Turkish resort of Kusadasi.

Attack

She was on the last day of a holiday with two friends when she left them in their hotel room to go shopping for gifts for her family and friends. Presumably on the way to a market, the bus she was travelling on exploded after a bomb had been planted on it. Kurdish separatists were blamed for the attack.

Requiem

Her remains were flown back to Ireland and taken to Cork University Hospital. She was later taken back to her native Waterford, where a funeral ceremony was held in St. Nicholas' Church in Ballyduff, her home parish, to the sound of a lone piper's tune.

Ballyduff Gaelic Athletic Association Club provided a guard of honour inside the church gate, with classmates from Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School and work colleagues from the Sweep Bar also paying their own tributes. Lyndsey Galgey, who, along with her twin sister Tracey, had travelled with Tara to Turkey for a post-Leaving Certificate holiday, spoke lovingly of Tara before Requiem Mass began.

An audio recording of this speech was broadcast on radio stations across Ireland as well as being played on RTÉ News with an image of the church as the visual with mourners outside paying their respects, as the camera crews refused to enter the church as a mark of respect.

Symbols of Tara’s life were offered during the Mass. A family photograph, a tin whistle (of which she was an accomplished musician at), a script from a local play, a shirt from the Sweep Bar, where she worked during weekends and holidays, and a single rose decorated the altar.

President Mary McAleese was represented by Colonel Ray King while Commandant Michael Murray represented An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Transport Minister Martin Cullen represented the Government while the Turkish Government was represented by Mr. Kurhan Kongora.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Noel Smith, City and County Mayors Hillary Quinlan and Gerard Barron along with other elected representatives were also present.

The final words by the graveside were delivered by Br. Columbanus, who recited the Prayer of St. Francis.

Irish-Turkish Statements

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, said in a statement: "I am deeply shocked by this cruel and senseless act. Five people have lost their lives, including a young Irish woman. I offer my deepest sympathies to her family and to the families of the other victims of this tragedy, as well as to those who were injured." The Department of Foreign Affairs reviewed its travel advice for Turkey in the light of the attack. They reiterated advice to "all Irish citizens in Turkey or planning to travel there to exercise caution and to be particularly vigilant at all times."

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul later insured that there had been increased security measures in the area, especially concerning the welfare of tourists and other foreign-national visitors.

Arrest

The bomber was arrested in Ä°stanbul on 8 April 2006 and is currently being tried in Ä°zmir. He reported that he had mixed with militant circles after having started to live in Germany as an asylum-seeker and had been trained in camps based in Germany and the Netherlands.

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