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Hundreds attend funeral of school teacher killed in bin lorry tragedy

Hundreds of mourners have gathered at a Glasgow church today for the funeral of a primary school teacher killed in the bin lorry crash tragedy.

Stephenie Tait, aged 29, is the last of the six victims to be laid to rest.

She died just days before Christmas alongside Jack and Lorraine Sweeney and their granddaughter Erin McQuade, Gillian Ewing, and Jacqueline Morton, 51.

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Archbishop: Glasgow is a city in mourning

The Archbishop of Glasgow has said the city is in mourning after a second Christmas tragedy struck earlier this week, when an out-of-control bin lorry crashed and killed six people.

It came just 13 months after a helicopter crashed into the Clutha pub.

The service was held at St Andrew's Cathedral Credit: Pool

In his sermon, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia said:

Just over a year ago, we had the Clutha disaster, and now we have this George Square tragedy when a heavy refuse lorry ran out of control, killing six people and seriously injuring 10 others. By all accounts, it was an horrific incident. Just as we were preparing for Christmas, our city of Glasgow is in mourning again.

– Archbishop Philip Tartaglia
The service was led by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia Credit: Pool

He said the "bereaved and devastated families may not feel the joy of Christmas because of their deep sadness and distress" as he spoke of their "grief, their bewilderment, their anger, their desperation, their unanswered questions".

A number of messages of condolence were read out, including one from Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the papal nuncio to Britain, who expressed sympathy on behalf of the Pope.

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