Mourners turn out for car smash Buddhist monks’ service

HUNDREDS of mourners are expected to pay their respects to three Buddhist monks who died following a horrific car smash on Christmas Eve.

Abbot Phramaha Pranom Thongphaiboon, 43, head of the Thai Buddhist community in Aberdeen, was killed in the head-on collision along with his colleagues Phramaha Kriangkrai 
Khamsamrong, 35, and Phramaha Chai Boonma, 36.

The three men, originally from Thailand, are thought to have been travelling to the Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh when they were involved in the crash on the A68 near Pathhead, Midlothian.

A service for all three was due to take place at Oakvale Funeral Home in Whitehouse Loan today between 10am and 3.30pm. Mourners will be able to view the bodies, which will then be flown home to Thailand for the funerals. The Edinburgh service will include traditional Buddhist chanting.

Yongyut Suayngam, of the Thai Scottish Association, said: “The three men have offered their services to Scotland and the Thai community in the UK for the past four or five years. The whole of the UK is experiencing a big loss at their deaths.”

He added that around 200 people were due to attend the service.

Any florists or supermarkets which can provide white roses for mourners to place inside or beside the coffins at the service today should contact the Dhammapadipa Temple on 0131-443 1010.