Priest urges mourners to pray for parents as Jade laid to rest

MEN, women and children wept at the funeral yesterday of little Jade O'Reilly, the four- year-old Dublin girl killed in Tuesday's horror crash near Adare, Co Limerick.

Jade’s twin sister Erin suffered minor injuries in the four-vehicle accident. Both their grandmother and great-grandmother, who were seriously hurt, are recovering in the Mid-Western Hospital in Limerick.

The Very Rev Paul Freeney of Balbriggan urged the congregation to pray for Jade’s distraught parents Nina and Anthony of Loughshinney Park, Skerries and support them.

“The most important thing is that you pray for Jade’s parents and be there for them,” said Fr Freeney. He added: “I hope they will have support of family and friends in the weeks ahead.”

The parish church of Saints Peter and Paul was packed for the Mass of the Angels. In keeping with tradition in this closely knit north Co Dublin community, the little girl had been waked overnight at the family home.

Jade was buried at Naul Cemetery. Before they carried the tiny white coffin to a waiting hearse, Jade’s grandmother Linda O’Rourke told mourners: “Every time I look at Erin I will see Jade in her eyes.”