The funerals of the couple who died in last week's double shooting in Drogheda, Co Louth, took place yesterday in Newry and Drogheda. About 300 mourners attended the funeral Mass for Mr Paddy Farrell at St Catherine's Church in Newry. He was described as a "businessman who had no equal".
Mr Farrell's friend, Ms Lorraine Farrell, was buried in Drogheda after 12.30 Mass in Our of Lady of Lourdes Church. Some 350 mourners stayed behind for the removal to St Peter's Cemetery.
The bodies of Mr Farrell (49) and Ms Farrell (29) were discovered at her mother's home in Boyle O'Reilly Terrace, Drogheda, on Wednesday night. Gardai believe Ms Farrell shot him with a double-barrel shotgun before taking her own life.
Mr Farrell was being investigated by both the Garda and the RUC for alleged drug-dealing and other criminal activities. At his funeral a friend identified only as Seamus criticised the press for writing "terrible things" about Mr Farrell but ignoring good things such as his charitable work and the money he had raised for victims of Chernobyl.
He described Mr Farrell as a very religious man who idolised his family, and as a "great businessman". Mr Farrell's wife, Anne, children John, Patrick and Charlotte and other family members arrived in two black limousines. Bodyguards kept watch outside the church while an RUC Land-Rover kept a discreet distance. Mr Farrell was buried at Clogoghue cemetery outside Newry.
Mourners at Ms Farrell's funeral were told that "idle speculation and gossip" could only add to the pain of her family. Father Patrick Hughes said that nothing could have prepared her parents, Peg and Kieran, for Lorraine's death. Her sisters, Edel and Wendy, did the readings. Items brought to the altar in the offertory procession included the life story of Elvis Presley, sunglasses and a photograph.
The cemetery where Ms Farrell was buried is just 300 yards from the family home where the bodies were found by her stepfather, Mr Des Wilton. She had paid for a plot there a week ago today.
Inquests are expected to take place in the next few weeks.