Community shocked by islander’s killing 11/10/10
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► Community shocked by islander’s killing
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The island community of Lewis has been affected by the death of Uig woman Linda Norgrove at the hands of Afghanistan militants.
The 36-
Ewan Mackinnon, Linda’s former teacher at Uig School, said: “The community is devastated. We are all shattered by the news. We had been hoping and praying for a different outcome.
“It is tragic news for the family and for the community as a whole.”
He added: “But we could have expected it in a way because not many who are taken hostage in the wildest parts of the Middle East regain their freedom.
“The family will get all the help and support they need, emotionally and otherwise.”
He recalled Linda as an intelligent, committed, eager, pupil, qualities which she displayed during her development work in Afghanistan.
Mr Mackinnon said: “I had no idea this was the career Linda would chose.
“But, in a way, it’s not too surprising because her mother has been involved in charity work here.
“Along with helpers, they’ve cleaned up local beaches and the sponsorship money they’ve raised has gone to poor countries to help them obtain clean drinking water.
“Linda was a very diligent worker, a steady worker who did everything that was asked
of her.said there had been hopes that she would have been freed alive.
He said: “The
family are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time. The community will
rally round to give them whatever support and help they need.”
Western Isles Council
convener Alex MacDonald said: “One can only express deep sorrow at this news. Our
thoughts are with the family at what is a very difficult time.”
Council leader Angus
Campbell said: “This is very sad news. I know the whole community will be thinking
of the family.”
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Ms Norgrove was a dedicated aid worker who was doing everything she could to help people in Afghanistan.
Hopefully that legacy of service in a humanitarian cause can be of some comfort to her loved ones in their time of grief.”
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said: “Linda Norgrove was a credit to the Western Isles and the humanitarian cause which she served so well.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad and distressing time.”
Isles’ MP Angus MacNeil added: “I am heart sorry to hear this terrible news and I’m sure the entire local community feels the same.
“Ms Norgrove was in Afghanistan trying to help and her death is an absolute tragedy.”
News of the tragedy rapidly filtered through the island with many islanders voicing their shock that a distant war, only observed through the TV screens, had tragic consequences for a local community.
One villager said Linda’s death was a deep shock for the whole community: “It is
very hard to take in. We knew Linda and her family since she was an infant and the
news of her death has yet to sink in.”
Another said: “The family need time to come
to terms with the news. It’s a very difficult time for them.”
One local woman said:
“I never knew her but it is so tragic that this should happen to her after dedicating
her life to helping people in Afghanistan.
“The fact that she is from Uig, that she
went to school here and was brought up in this community really does bring it home
to us. She was one of our own.”
“The good thing about this community is there is a
lot of support within it and people will rally round the family in a big way.”