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| Balloon victim's funeral underway | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The funeral of the 10-year-old girl who died in a freak accident at a friend's birthday party is taking place in Castlederg. | |
| Clarice Harron, who would have celebrated her 11th birthday on Monday, died at the party in Spamount on Saturday. | Clarice Harron, who would have celebrated her 11th birthday on Monday, died at the party in Spamount on Saturday. |
| It is understood she choked as as she blew up a balloon. | It is understood she choked as as she blew up a balloon. |
| She will be buried after a service at St John's Church of Ireland church in the town. | She will be buried after a service at St John's Church of Ireland church in the town. |
| She is survived by her parents, Gerald and Dreena, and her siblings Leanda, Gary and Alan. | She is survived by her parents, Gerald and Dreena, and her siblings Leanda, Gary and Alan. |
| Clarice was in P7 at Edwards Primary School in Castlederg. | Clarice was in P7 at Edwards Primary School in Castlederg. |
| Her school friends will form a guard of honour at her funeral. | Her school friends will form a guard of honour at her funeral. |
| 'Trauma' | 'Trauma' |
| Pupils have been receiving counselling. | Pupils have been receiving counselling. |
| Councillor Derek Hussey, who is a friend of the Harron family, said it had been a "traumatic time" for the family. | Councillor Derek Hussey, who is a friend of the Harron family, said it had been a "traumatic time" for the family. |
| "It is a trauma that has reverberated throughout our community. | "It is a trauma that has reverberated throughout our community. |
| "The funeral is going to be very difficult, particularly for her family, but also for the entire community, but I know their support will be very obvious. | "The funeral is going to be very difficult, particularly for her family, but also for the entire community, but I know their support will be very obvious. |
| "I also want to pay tribute to Clarice's school, and to the staff of the Western Education and Library Board, and to the Reverend Alan Peek. | "I also want to pay tribute to Clarice's school, and to the staff of the Western Education and Library Board, and to the Reverend Alan Peek. |
| "He has been a constant support and comfort to the family in trying to deal with this gut-wrenching thing that has come to their door," he said. | "He has been a constant support and comfort to the family in trying to deal with this gut-wrenching thing that has come to their door," he said. |
| The Harron family's minister, Reverend Alan Peek, whose daughter is in Clarice's class, said the whole community was in grief. | The Harron family's minister, Reverend Alan Peek, whose daughter is in Clarice's class, said the whole community was in grief. |
| "There is absolute shock. The children are full of questions about how and why and there is just numbness. | "There is absolute shock. The children are full of questions about how and why and there is just numbness. |
| 'Infectious smile' | 'Infectious smile' |
| "Clarice was a bubbly, happy 10-year-old girl with an infectious smile," he said. | "Clarice was a bubbly, happy 10-year-old girl with an infectious smile," he said. |
| "She loved Hannah Montana, glitter and make-up just like so many 10-year-olds." | "She loved Hannah Montana, glitter and make-up just like so many 10-year-olds." |
| He said the whole community's thoughts and prayers were with her family. | He said the whole community's thoughts and prayers were with her family. |
| In a statement, the Western Education and Library Board's Chief Executive Barry Mulholland said he wished to extend his deep and sincere sympathy, on behalf of board members and staff, to the Harron family. | In a statement, the Western Education and Library Board's Chief Executive Barry Mulholland said he wished to extend his deep and sincere sympathy, on behalf of board members and staff, to the Harron family. |
| "Sympathies are also extended to the staff and pupils of Edwards Primary School," the statement said. | "Sympathies are also extended to the staff and pupils of Edwards Primary School," the statement said. |
| "The board's critical incident response team has been deployed to offer support to pupils and staff at Edwards Primary School at what will be a very difficult time for the school, families and the local community." | "The board's critical incident response team has been deployed to offer support to pupils and staff at Edwards Primary School at what will be a very difficult time for the school, families and the local community." |