THE BODIES of a young mother, her infant daughter and toddler son lay side by side in the same coffin in a Co Limerick village last night, where locals are still struggling to cope with one of the worst tragedies in living memory.
Hundreds of mourners gathered in the west Limerick village of Tournafulla for the removal of murdered 25-year-old Sarah Hines, her five-month-old daughter Amy and son Reece (3).
The mother and two children were stabbed to death, along with 20-year-old Alicia Brough, at a house in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, on November 15th.
A 31-year-old man is in custody charged with all four murders.
The funeral of Ms Brough took place earlier this week at Rockchapel, Co Cork, while Sarah Hines and her children will be cremated at a private service following Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Tournafulla today.
Large crowds gathered at Roche’s funeral home last night to sympathise with the Hines family, who moved to the area from England a number of years ago.
Retired Det Garda Con Browne, who alerted gardaí after he was made aware of the incident at the house in Newcastle West last week, was one of the first to sympathise with the Hines family yesterday.
The eldest in a family of eight, Sarah and her young children lay in the same dark oak coffin, which was taken to St Patrick’s Church last night.
“That’s what we wanted was for her to hold the babies in each arm because then they will know where they are going. They are wearing white Indian cotton. It is beautiful,” her stepfather, Peter Rolfe said.
Mr Rolfe expressed gratitude for the huge support Sarah’s family has received from the four communities of Tournafulla, Feoghanagh, Dromcollogher and Newcastle West, to where his stepdaughter moved just weeks before her death.
A teddy bear belonging to Amy and Reece’s toy dinosaur rested on the coffin along with photographs of the trio.
Local parish priest Fr Willie O’Gorman, who will say today’s funeral Mass, last night appealed for people to remember the Hines family in their prayers.
“Sarah, Reece and Amy were taken so suddenly and in such tragic circumstances. It is hard to imagine the pain the family is going through at this immensely difficult time and I would appeal for privacy as they mourn their loss. “I would like to thank all who have offered their prayerful support and I would ask that you continue to remember them in your prayers,” Fr O’Gorman said.
Sarah Hines is survived by her mother, Abina, father, Christopher, stepfather, Peter Rolfe, and her seven brothers, Chris, Damian, Jessie, Josh, Lewis, Ben and Adam.
Mourners attending the removal were invited to make a donation to Adapt House, the women’s refuge in Limerick city, in a collection box erected by the Hines family outside Roche’s funeral home.