One-sided funeral as mother’s body laid to rest

THE funeral which divided two families in the High Court earlier this week went ahead yesterday, with just mourners from one side present.

Kathleen McCarthy O’Reilly, 22, was laid to rest in Kilcornan, Co Limerick in the absence of her partner, Timmy O’Reilly, their two children and the extended O’Reilly family.

More than 300 mourners from the McCarthy side of the family walked behind the bronze casket as it was brought from Kilcornan church to the adjacent cemetery where Kathleen was buried in a grave near her grandparents.

Gardaí had checkpoints at roads near the church and special mirrors were used to inspect underneath vehicles for concealed weapons.

A back-up force of gardaí, some armed, were on standby at Pallaskenry village, three kilometres away. The cemetery and surrounding fields were searched earlier.

Insp Seamus Gallagher said they had taken possession of a few small items.

Addressing mourners at the funeral Mass, Fr Oscar O’Leary, chaplain to the traveller community in Cork, described Kathleen as a special person.

He said: “She was always on the go doing things.”

Fr O’Leary said that during the week the media had referred to the tug-of-war over who should organise her funeral. He said: “It was not a tug-of-war, but a tug-of-love.”

Fr O’Leary said they had no need to be ashamed over what had happened.

“She is now at peace with God,” said Fr O’Leary.

Kathleen McCarthy O’Reilly was waked in Cork on Wednesday.

Her remains were brought to West Limerick on Thursday where the O’Reilly family waked her in Shanagolden.

The mother of two was found dead near her home in Kilmallock last Saturday. A post-mortem ruled out foul play.

Her father, Michael McCarthy, who lives in Cork went to the High Court to prevent Kathleen’s partner Timmy O’Reilly getting custody of the remains for burial.