Tragic hotel stampede victim Lauren Bullock was a 'warm and bubbly' young woman, her funeral mass heard today.
The 17-year-old was one of three young people killed in a crush at the Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
Connor Currie, 16, and Morgan Barnard, 17, also died in the incident.
Lauren's funeral mass took place on Friday morning at Saint Patrick’s Church, Donaghamore.
In an emotional service, Father David Moore, Parish Priest of Pomeroy, revealed that the community had been left in a state of "shock and disbelief" after the tragedy.
He paid a touching tribute to Lauren, describing the popular youngster as "energetic and full of life".
Three teenagers killed in hotel disco 'stampede' to be laid to rest today
He told the congregation: "On Sunday night, and during the early hours of Monday, a dark and threatening cloud hung over all of us, as we struggled to understand and come to terms with the tragic turn of events on what ought to have been a night of fun, dance, friendship and laughter.
"Instead we learned, in a state of shock and disbelief, of the news of Lauren’s tragic death, and the deaths of Connor and Morgan.
He added: "Aged only 17, Lauren was well in the process of making her mark on her home, her school, this community, her circle of friends.
"She was ‘living the dream’, energetic and full of life, doing and enjoying all the things that made her happy.
"She was a girl who was happiest when she was doing things to help others and gave of herself and her time to do a good deed whenever and wherever she could.
"Lauren’s many friends have described her to me as having ‘a warm and bubbly personality with a very infectious smile’, that’s a lovely picture for all of us to have of her in our minds today.
"Lauren was getting on so well in Saint Patrick’s College in Dungannon, and her teachers there can attest to how eager and very able a student Lauren was.
"She had a bright future in front of her and we know she still had so much more to contribute to our community.
"Nothing seemed to get Lauren down. She had such a positive outlook on life and a real zest for living."
