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Forget revenge, mourners told

By NICK BARBER

Mourners at yesterday's funeral service for Newark teenager Fred Barras were urged to forget all thoughts of revenge. 

The town centre was brought to a standstill around midday (09/09/99) as hundreds of travellers from across the country followed a funeral procession to the parish church of St Mary Magdelene.

The procession set off from the heart of the Hawtonville estate and passed along Devon Road, where Barras, who was 16, lived before making its way through the town centre.

There were five trucks laden with wreaths, one shaped into Fred's name. Many members of the family came from northern England to be at the funeral.

Barras's coffin, decorated with flowers, was carried in by family members, followed by his mother Mrs Ellen Barras.

It was escorted by a group of his friends wearing white shirts and black trousers and each carrying a single red carnation.

The Michael Jackson song You Are Not Alone was played as mourners entered the church.

In his address the Vicar of Christ Church, Newark, the Rev Richard Harlow-Trigg, said: "We pray for ourselves, for strength and courage, for hope and faith and for the will and dignity to grieve for Fred without resorting to violence and revenge.

"Not surprisingly, there is anger and recrimination as well as sadness and mourning. We are not here to judge Fred. Nor are we here to judge anybody else who was involved in this tragedy.

"Revenge belongs to God and not to us. We cannot plead for God to have mercy on Fred whilst holding on to thoughts of revenge ourselves."

The family chose the traditional hymn The Old Rugged Cross followed by the modern song I Watch The Sunrise. You'll Never Walk Alone was played as the funeral procession left the church.

Following the service Barras was buried in Newark Cemetery.

His uncle, Mr Tony Joynes, said it had been a huge relief for the family to have got the body back.

"We wanted to give him the best send-off possible and it was a very special service," he said. "Now that Fred has been buried we can start to get our lives back together again."

Barras died from gunshot wounds at a farm in Enmeth, Norfolk, on August 20. Farmer Mr Tony Martin (54) has been charged with his murder.

Mr Martin was released on conditional bail on Tuesday by a judge sitting in camera at Norwich Crown Court. One of the conditions was that he did not stay in Norfolk. He is living at a 'safe house' address.

Mr Martin is also charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Brendan Fearon (29), of Mercia Road, Newark, who suffered shotgun wounds to his legs and groin.

He has been released from hospital and was at the funeral, accompanied by his family.

Mr Fearon and another man, who has not been named by police, were both questioned on suspicion of burglary and released on police bail.

Other views: National Post, Canada.

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