The funeral of Therese MacGowan, the mother of Pogues singer Shane MacGowan, took place today in Tipperary.

Amid the pleas for a return to normality in inner city Dublin, the Hutch family tried to lead by example.

The gangland murders of the past fortnight have brought back “fear and terror” to a community already on its knees from cutbacks and neglect, the local drug task force has said.

Gardaí are keeping a close eye on suspects travelling in and out of Dublin Airport in the run-up to tomorrow’s funeral of Edward Hutch Sr.

There has been a “dramatic rise” in the number of families traumatised by the loss of a loved one from drug use, a support group has said.

Children as young as 10 were involved in a night of vandalism that terrified residents in a Limerick housing estate.

A close-knit Limerick community is fearful of further acts of vandalism after their local church was destroyed with paint and a derelict house was set on fire.

The funeral of a 25-year-old Cork teacher who “packed a lot into a short life” takes place today in Ballinlough.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to attend the funeral later of a mother of three whose body was found by firefighters in a house in Cork at the weekend.

A national Garda system to help families intimidated by dealers over drug debts is due to be launched in the coming months.

Family and friends of Deirdre Lynch made her funeral Mass into a heartwarming celebration of a girl described as “a wonderful, shining light”.

A 16-year-old Co Cork boy who died suddenly while playing a schools’ match has been described as a “an extraordinarily skilled sportsman” by his principal.

Former Munster Branch President Cyril Fitzgerald has passed away at the age of 72.

As the funeral of Limerick taxi driver Anthony McMahon takes place today, it has emerged that prior to opening fire on gardaí on Monday night, he had left a suicide note.

A female garda sergeant fell on the roadway as she and her colleague ran from crazed gunman Anthony McMahon on Monday night near Newport, Co Tipperary.

THE rain fell and the tears flowed as the week started in tragedy.

“HER smile lit up a room. She was love personified. She radiated love in all directions. She made us better people.”

Political divisions were put to one side today as the funeral took place in Cork of seven-year-old Léana Martin, the daughter of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

The funeral takes place later of the youngest daughter of Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, who passed away last week after a short illness.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen and his wife Mary Molloy were among several hundred people who sympathised with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin and his family last night as they began the heartbreaking process of saying goodbye to their beloved Léana.

THE removal of Léana Martin, the youngest daughter of Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, will take place in Cork today.

MUSICIANS in Cork have been saddened at news of the death of music shop owner Michael Crowley.

The funerals have taken place of the three Co Louth brothers who died in last week's fire tragedy in Drogheda.

FAMILIES affected by drugs have called for the drugs crisis to be given the same priority as road safety.

Three teenagers killed in a New Year’s Eve car crash were waked in their family homes today as separate funerals were planned for tomorrow.

UP to a thousand people are expected to attend an annual service tonight in memory of all those who have died from drugs and to support those struggling with addiction.

THE funeral takes place today of an elderly Co Tipperary farmer who died after being knocked to the ground by cattle last Tuesday.

A YOUNG man was in custody yesterday after the biggest ecstasy find by gardaí this year, with more than 180,000 tablets seized.

THEY came in their hundreds to mourn a woman who was universally loved and liked for her caring nature.

A bus driver accused of causing the death of a former teacher is receiving psychiatric treatment.

Up to 500 mourners are attending the funeral today of the woman killed when her car was struck by a stolen bus on the Naas Road last Sunday.

THE funeral of the victim of last Sunday’s stolen bus rampage through Dublin is to take place in the parish where she taught among the children she loved.

GARDAÍ in Limerick are investigating the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl as she walked home from evening Mass.

JOSETHINE WRIGHT was one of hundreds of mothers who attended a special Mass last night.

A SMALL fibreglass Madonna hailed as a miracle

HUNDREDS of people yesterday attended the funeral of a popular priest who committed suicide.