The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

"Never again": in Bayonne, the final farewell to Philippe, the attacked bus driver

2020-07-21T08:10:03.412Z


Ten days after the death of Philippe Monguillot, 58, his funeral was celebrated on Monday in the Sainte-Croix church, in the presence of centa


They put their hand on the coffin, try to hold back their tears while the song "Understand" by George Michael resonates in the Sainte-Croix church in Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), where the funeral of Philippe Monguillot, this bus driver death at the age of 58 following an extremely violent assault, were celebrated on Monday, July 20. Behind them, in the photo placed in front of the altar, he seems to be looking at them. A benevolent, smiling look, a bit mischievous, on his "four chicks", Véronique, his wife, and their three daughters Mélanie, 24, Manon, 21 and Marie, 18.

In the church, some 200 people meditate. Family and friends as well as the mayor of Bayonne Jean-René Etchegaray and Marlène Schiappa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior, in charge of Citizenship. All took place on the benches, at a distance from each other, in compliance with the health rules related to Covid-19.

Among the hundreds of people who attended the funeral of Philippe Monguillot in Bayonne, Marlène Schiappa, the Minister of the Interior in charge of Citizenship. / AFP / Gaizka Iroz  

"Never again", says Véronique, his wife

Outside, more than 600 people attended the funeral of Philippe Monguillot. The bus driver, who had been brain dead since his assault on July 5, succumbed to his serious injuries on July 10. Four men were indicted, including two aged 22 and 23, for “intentional homicide” and placed in pre-trial detention. They had struck several kicks and punches at the bus driver who had asked them to validate their transport ticket and wear the mask, at the Trambus “Balishon” stop in Bayonne.

During this final farewell to the "Tiger", a nickname given by his friends, the priest spoke of "despicable attack" of "a great injustice". On the first bench, Philippe's wife and her daughters hold hands, united and dignified as since the first day when they heard the news which destroyed them. Véronique, 52, very moved, addresses her husband, turning to the coffin. "My love, just one thing, I loved you, I love you and I will love you all my life." Strong, eager to now lead a fight for the safety of bus drivers, Véronique addresses to the authorities this sentence which sounds like a slogan: "Never again".

"This incredible void will follow us everywhere"

Then it was his daughters' turn to speak. From the height of her 18 years, the youngest implores: "Enjoy life and make the people around you happy". “A part of us was torn from us, that part that educated us, yelled at but loved from the bottom of our being,” she says. Marie speaks of this father who liked to be "flattered" and always asked what color his eyes were. "So when someone tells me, You have beautiful eyes , I will tell him: yes, they are green like my daddy's ".

On Sunday July 5, Marie had passed her father, driving his bus, a few moments before the attack. He had told her: "I'm making my last trip and I'm coming." Marie continues: “I hope this trip will be the most beautiful for the person that you were. It is with great pain that you are going to leave your four girls ”.

Manon, 21, long blond hair, walks in front of the microphone. She wonders about the future of her "broken family". "What will our daily life be like now?" It kills me to tell myself that you will not grow old by mum's side and that you will not lead us to the altar for our wedding. This incredible void will follow us everywhere ”. While Véronique and her daughters sit down, the crowd gathered in front of the giant screen applauds.

A final tribute from his colleagues

From 1 p.m., the public formed of anonymous and friends of Philippe Monguillot had started to gather in front of the church. Like Maïté, this retiree who knew Philippe as a teenager: "I had affection for this boy, he was a friend, I had to be there today". Catherine, in her fifties, confides: "We are a family in Bayonne, so it's as if it was a member of our family who was leaving".

A few moments earlier, six buses on which was inscribed "tribute to Philippe" had transported his colleagues. Dressed in white T-shirts, crossed out with the words, "For Philippe", they collected themselves with emotion. During the passage of the funeral convoy, all had chanted "Philippe, Philippe", as a tribute to this sports enthusiast.

Newsletter - The essentials of the news

Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers. Learn more

VIDEO. The white march in homage to Philippe Monguillot

It is to her husband's colleagues that Véronique wanted to address her last word after mass. She got on each of the buses to thank them and tell them the fight was going on. "Never again, it must never be done again", she hammered under the applause. Philippe Monguillot will be cremated Tuesday during a ceremony in the privacy.

Source: leparis

All tech articles on 2020-07-21

You may like

Trends 24h

Tech/Game 2024-03-27T18:05:36.686Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.