The family of the 14-year-old schoolgirl from Barra who died in the Manchester terror attack hope her funeral can be held next week
Eilidh Macleod’s body is due to return to Barra on Sunday.
The funeral is likely to take place the following day with the service at Our Lady, Star of the Sea at Castlebay on Barra, followed by burial on neighbouring Vatersay, where Eilidh grew up.
The family moved to Castlebay about two years ago.
Eilidh’s great uncle Donald Manford said last night: “The family are hoping to have the funeral at the beginning of next week. That is the plan though a few things still need to be confirmed. They continue to be overwhelmed by the support they have received.”
Father John Paul Mackinnon, who will be conducting the service, added: “I have spoken to the family and at the moment we are trying to hold the funeral service on Monday with burial on Vatersay where Eilidh grew up.
“That is what we are working to. It has been a difficult time but the family and wider community are buoyed by the messages of support they have received. It has been overwhelming.”
Eilidh had been at the Ariana Grande concert with her 15-year-old friend Laura MacIntyre, who was also caught-up in the blast but survived despite being seriously injured.
She has been taken of a ventilator and has spoken to her family, it was revealed earlier this week.
Her parents said that Laura was making “remarkable progress” after suffering leg and head injuries in the terror attack.
Eilidh’s parents, Roddy and Marion MacLeod, last week described their daughter, a keen bagpiper, as “vivacious and full of fun”.
They added: “Words cannot express how we feel at losing our darling Eilidh.
“As a family we would like to express our thanks and gratitude for the support and kind messages we have received.”
Classmates on Barra also paid tribute to Eilidh, saying she would be “piping with the angels now”.
Funds set up to help the families of the two girls have now passed a combined total of nearly £90,000.
Eilidh was among 22 people killed by a suicide bomber at the end of the concert at the Manchester Arena. She and Laura had travelled with Eilidh’s mother, Marion, 400 miles from Barra for the event.
The trip was a birthday treat for Eilidh.