BY MARK MCKELVEY
THE funeral will take place this afternoon of 21-month-old Leah McFarland who died in tragic circumstances at her family home outside Fintona on Monday evening.
The much-loved little girl perished after she accidentally fell from a swing whilst playing at her home on the Cavan Road in the townland of Cumber.
The tragedy occurred just before 7pm and police and ambulance services were called to the house. However, despite attempts to resuscitate Leah, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesman from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received an emergency call at 7.12pm in relation to the incident.
"The nearest available accident and emergency ambulance was dispatched at 7.13pm and arrived on scene at 7.28pm. Despite the best efforts of the ambulance crew and those on scene, the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. Our thoughts are with the family at this tragic time."
The loss of such a young life is said to have devastated the entire local community.
Leah is the only child of Reuban and Joanne McFarland and the precious granddaughter of Timothy and Sadie McFarland and William and Elizabeth Adams.
Her funeral service will take place this afternoon (Thursday) at 2pm in Omagh Independent Methodist Church, followed by internment in Fintona new cemetery.
Local Minister and close friend, Rev Philip Johnston, said the family are traumatised at the loss of Leah, who he described as a "delightful little girl."
Rev Johnston said, "It is a tragic situation and my heart goes out to the family. I have spent as much time as I can with them.
"Our parishioners are in complete shock and devastation by this tragedy. All we can do is pray for the family. Any phone calls we make usually ends in tears."
He added, "The loss of any child will draw this kind of emotional response from me, but this little girl was just something special - she was delightful. I know her and her family very well. They most certainly have a strong faith and that is proving to be a real benefit at this time."
Local councillor, Bert Wilson, who has known the family for many years and assisted the young couple in getting planning for their home, conveyed how this tragic accident has really touched the hearts of the entire community.
Cllr Wilson said, "I would like to pass on my deepest sympathy to the family. I have known three generations of the McFarland family and they are very hard working decent people.
"This is a real tragedy for a young couple setting out in life. The family are traumatised by this terrible accident. They are finding it difficult to even make arrangements and are getting assistance and support from their friends at this time.
"The community is in complete shock with a widespread outpouring of emotion towards the family. Everybody just can't take it in.
"The loss of any life is tragic, but when it is a life so young in these circumstances it touches the hearts of the community even more. When it comes to your own area, to a family you know and respect so highly it makes this tragedy even more poignant."
Councillors Pat McDonnell and Tom Buchanan also passed on their sincerest condolences to the McFarland family, expressing the shock of the wider community who have been showing their support with huge gatherings of people visiting them to express their sympathy and prayers at this traumatic time.
