The Church of Ireland
Press Release

We gather today to do something very important, to give thanks to God for a life.

We meet today because we believe that every life is important, that everyone in this world has been created by God, made in his image with a dignity and uniqueness that cannot be taken away or destroyed even by death, however their death may occur.

We remember that life is also a gift, not something we earn or can claim as our right, but that it is a gift from God. In remembering Gavin today we also recognise that life is a very delicate gift which can so easily be brought to an end in earthly terms.

Ultimately we remember that each life which is given by God to us as a gift, is in God's hands. In life and in death God's love surrounds us. We are reminded of this in the wonderful words of Psalm 139 "Where shall I go from your spirit, or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven you are there, if I make my bed in the grave you are there also."

Today we remember that Gavin Brett known to his friends as Goon is alive in God's presence. Yes his physical body is dead, but his soul lives on and we believe in the everlasting arms of God.

Gavin was born on 3 December 1982 and baptised on 19 December 1982 in this church, the church in which his parents Michael and Phyllis were married in the era when William McCappin who later went on to become Bishop of Connor was Vicar of this Parish. Gavin was baptised by Canon Noel Jackson his successor and I stand here as the next Vicar with this privilege today of speaking about Gavin.

Gavin was a fine tall, handsome lad, full of life, with a promising future ahead of him. He quite obviously had a remarkable circle of friends from all sections of the community. He was educated at Carnmoney Primary School and Glengormley High School, exclusively Protestant schools, yet in his circle of friends he had many many Roman Catholics who loved him.

I have never seen more young people coming and going from a home as I have witnessed in the last 3 days. He obviously took part in activities with Protestant Community in school and in church life, but also took part in other social activities which brought him in contact with many from the other sections of the community. He was part of the Glen Cross Community Youth Group which travelled recently to Dublin to meet the Lord Mayor and to the Boyne Centre, he went on Outward Bound trips with Newtownabbey Ramble getting to the Finals - this was run by the Police Service. He visited the Share Centre in Lisnaskea on another occasion.

Today we remember his friend Michael Russell whose father Raymond must take a great deal of credit for running this Cross Community Group. Michael feels devastated that Gavin is gone, while he is left. I know that Gavin would be glad to know that Michael will make a good recovery in time. Michael will need a great deal of support from everyone in the months and years to come.

Gavin was a Manchester United Supporter. It is good to see the Rangers and Celtic shirts side by side with the United shirt at what must surely become a very special memorial for all of us in this community.

The shattering nature of Gavin's departure leaves us all stunned and speechless. One moment Gavin was one of the lads, the next gone. One moment Gavin had the whole of his life to look forward to, the next no time at all.

Gavin had been a promising student at Glengormley High School looking forward to his exam results - a career in Information Technology and Business ahead.

I know that his family have appreciated the support of the Principal of Glengormley High School, Mr Foster at this time and the Board of Governors. Glengormley High School is never going to be the same again. I am sure that Mr Foster will have something very meaningful to say to all his pupils when they return in September about the lessons that they have to learn from an incident like this.

These men who murdered Gavin were Protestants, Loyalists and they killed one of their own, thinking that he was a Roman Catholic. They did it for the cause of Protestant Civil Rights. All they succeeded in doing was to deny a Protestant his Civil Rights and to deny all Protestants of their Civil Rights. They have done nothing but bring shame on the name of Protestantism. They represent the evil wasteful past which is dead and useless to us all.

Gavin on the other hand represents the future for Northern Ireland. Gavin, in the way he lived his life, friends with Protestants and Roman Catholics represents the only future, the only hope, the only purpose we have, the only truth, that we are called to love our neighbours as ourselves regardless of their background.

I witnessed the sorrow and the grief of the many young people who came to Gavin's home to see their friend lying peacefully in his coffin. I can guess their thoughts - why did this happen? Does life end like this? Is there anything else? Does evil triumph in the end after all?

I have seen the marvellous character of the Brett family - the quiet dignity, the pride in their son, the open door to all who would call, the lack of bitterness or any hint of bigotry.

Michael and Phyllis in the caring professions demonstrating to all their love for others. Tara and Philip following their parents examples. In the wider family Peter and Anne, Carol and Drew and their children and of course Granny Brett who is always thinking of others around her.

How do we respond to Gavin's death? What can we learn from this?

The Vigil last night at 9.00p.m on the Hightown Road is the beginning of our response.

God is calling the whole community of Glengormley to stand together from now on. We are essentially one community, yes with different traditions and religious backgrounds and beliefs, but essentially one community of people, made in the image of God. God wants us to love our neighbours as ourselves. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus challenged the religion of his day that you cannot call yourself a true believer in God while ignoring your neighbours. The only believers God is interested in are those who love their neighbours in a practical way. God wants people who reach out their hands in love and helpfulness to others, to all in need in the community.

The Samaritans were the enemies of the Jews and yet it was a Samaritan who shows the people of God how God really wanted them to behave, let us not forget God's message today.

How do we believe in the Christian future after an incident like this, after an innocent man was murdered by the guilty?

The strength of the Christian faith for me is that it has room for this dark side of life. If Christianity taught that goodness and virtue was always followed by health and happiness and that suffering only came to those who deserved it, I wouldn't believe it. And I certainly wouldn't be standing here telling it to you, because I wouldn't expect you to believe it either, for it flies in the face of what we see with our own eyes. The world is full of innocent people who are suffering one way or another, all asking the question, 'Why?'

What God did about this deepest and most powerful of questions, was not to provide snap and unconvincing answers to it. Neither did he brush aside our human tragedies as beneath his notice, but he looked at the world with all its injustice and sorrow, and planted a cross in the middle of it - a cross upon which hung all his undeserved and unreasonable suffering. He says in effect "Your cross is part of my cross. I share today in your suffering through my son Jesus Christ."

When people do a dastardly deed like this they don't simply break God's heart. Jesus doesn't simply stand from us today. He stands with us and he calls us to Himself. It is only by placing our lives in Jesus' hands that we can receive the love and the peace and the healing we need.

Today we say in the memory of Gavin Brett that death is not the end of life. There is a greater life ahead that God has prepared for us all. The vital thing is that we choose the right way - to love God and to follow Jesus his son.

We are called to be peacemakers. We are called to be neighbours. We are called to believe in Jesus Christ as the one who alone brings peace and who gives meaning in our lives which nothing or no-one can take away.

May God bless the Brett family today, Michael, Phyllis, Tara and Philip and the whole family circle.