Parents to bury tug-of-love woman after court finds marriage ‘invalid’

TUG-OF-LOVE woman Kathleen McCarthy O’Reilly is to be buried by her parents in Askeaton, Co Limerick, on Friday next by order of the High Court.

Timothy O’Reilly, who had two children with 22-year-old Kathleen at Riverview, Kilmallock, Co Limerick, following an “invalid” wedding ceremony, lost an application to be allowed to conduct his late wife’s funeral arrangements.

Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne told parents Michael and Margaret McCarthy yesterday they would have responsibility for the funeral of their daughter but would have to arrange separate day-long wakes in Cork and Askeaton for both families.

Following Kathleen’s tragic death last Friday an inter-family row over where she should be buried and by whom moved to the High Court when her partner, Timothy O’Reilly, asked Judge Dunne on Monday to release her body to him for burial.

Judge Dunne also directed that the headstone should bear the name Kathleen McCarthy O’Reilly and that Mr O’Reilly and the couple’s children, should they so decide, could be buried in the Askeaton grave.

She said her concern was that the children, aged three and 15 months, should as they grow older be able to visit and grieve at the grave and should be able to see their mother’s name on it.

Following the court decision, Kathleen’s father, Michael McCarthy, said they were happy with the judge’s directions.

“I am delighted everything worked out OK. Now we can rest her in peace,” he said.

Mr O’Reilly, who “married” Kathleen in a ceremony conducted by controversial Bishop Michael Cox following an elopement, said he did not wish to comment after yesterday’s hearing. Bishop Cox is the same man who ordained singer Sinead O’Connor a priest.

The parish priest of Kilmallock, Canon Willie Fitzmaurice, last night said the unfortunate controversy over where Kathleen would be buried had overshadowed the tragedy of the woman’s death.