Mourners at the funeral of a mother and her two children, who were murdered in Co Fermanagh last week, have been told that their family is comforted knowing she will have her children at either side of her forever.
GAA clubs from across Clare, Galway and Fermanagh formed a guard of honour in the village of Barefield in Co Clare as hearses carrying the coffins of 45-year-old Vanessa Whyte, her son James and daughter Sara were brought to the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
In a eulogy at the beginning of the funeral mass, Regina Whyte, a sister of Vanessa, said the family had been taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner.
She said the Whyte family had been robbed of seeing their nephew and niece growing up, and Vanessa and her children had been robbed of the remainder of their lives.
Ms Whyte said Vanessa should have been returning to Clare for a joyful occasion, the birth of her new nephew.
She said the family's only comfort is that they are together and safe, and that Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever.
She said: "It has taken us 11 days to be in a position to have Vanessa, James and Sara back to Clare.
"For us as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe."
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Ms Whyte and her 14-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, died in a shooting at Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh 11 days ago.
The man suspected of their murders, Ian Rutledge, died on Monday evening.
Bishop of Ferns, Ger Nash, a family friend said: "We ask the question: 'Why?’, and we know there is no easy answer.
"The tragic events of last week, and the ripping away of three people from their family and friends leave us searching for answers and coming back again and again to the only answer that is completely true: ‘We don’t know’."
Those attending the funeral mass wore bright colours, having been asked by the family.
Bishop Nash told the congregation that Jesus is described as a light that darkness cannot overpower.
"Truly, we need that light today, and it is hinted at in the bright colours that Vanessa, James and Sara’s family have asked people to wear.
"The darkness will not conquer," he said.
Mourners heard of the "immense gifts" that Vanessa brought to her adopted county of Fermanagh, and to her adopted community of Maguiresbridge.
"She brought this from her family background in Ballyline, from her school time in Barefield and Coláiste Mhuire, and from her very first experiences of farming, animals and nature," he said.
The funeral mass was told of family’s love of gaelic games, and how they followed the Clare hurlers in good times and bad, travelling long distances to attend matches.
Speaking to the Whyte family, Bishop Nash said: "You know how you are held in your sorrow by the community here in Barefield and in Clare, but also in Maguiresbridge and Fermanagh.
"At great cost, you have discovered that many people want to walk with you on your journey of pain."
The mother and her two children were buried together in Templemaley Cemetery, Co Clare, following the funeral.
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