The lives of two good young people have been claimed this week. As their families grieve it is wonderful to read their lasting tributes to them

Katherine Ireland, 21, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, had faced up to reality as she waited for a double lung transplant. She had seen many of her friends die as they waited in hope..

Last year she took part in a campaign to urge people to add their names to the national donors' register. But earlier this week, after a transplant which went extremely well, Katherine suffered two seizures and died.

Her parents Jan and David hope her organs can be used to help others live a better life. A fitting tribute, and all the more reason for people to fill in the application forms and carry a donor card.

At Haworth, Andrew Carter, 27, was a promising student heading for a first class degree in IT networking. He was well liked and loved by the many who knew him.

Yet his life is believed to have been cruelly claimed by new variant CJD, the human form of BSE.

His family decided not to tell Andrew of his condition, instead telling him he had a virus. The odds are the family will never know for certain how Andrew contracted the illness - but they are convinced it is linked with the BSE crisis.

The family holds no ill-will towards farmers, but is rightly angered at the way the issue has been handled. They are angered by the farmers' demands for compensation following the beef scares.

Andrew's sister sums up the situation in a nutshell. "All the focus is on the farmers. You hardly ever get a mention of the people who have suffered. They are the real victims, and they are forgotten." Every farmer and politician should read and re-read her comments and then act on them.

Our hearts go out to both families.

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