Bodies of Flood family released for burial

THE four bodies of the Flood family were last night released to grieving relatives anxious to bring their loved ones home for burial in Wexford.

North Wexford coroner Dr Sean Nixon authorised their release after the state pathologist’s office said it had completed its examination on the victims of last weekend’s murder-suicide in Clonroche.

On Saturday, Diarmuid Flood, 41, killed himself and set his home ablaze after shooting his wife Lorraine, 38, and murdering their two children Mark, 6, and Julie, 5, in their beds.

Their postmortems in Dublin city morgue were complicated by the need for blood tests, to determine how both children died, and the discovery of cancerous asbestos in the burnt-out shell of the house.

Funeral details had not been released at the time of going to press, however, a spokesman for the extended Kehoe and Flood families said they were hopeful the service would happen soon, so they could take time to come to terms with their loss.

Yesterday, it was a sentiment shared by the 550 people who live in the village of Clonroche and the 6,000 drivers who pass through it daily.

Gardaí opened the main road for the first time since Saturday, removed diversions and businesses returned to normal trade.

The lifting of the cordon allowed school friends of the two Flood children to leave bouquets, teddy bears and messages outside the house.

“To my friend Mark and your sister Julie, I will miss you. Love, Byron,” said one.

Another, in simple handwriting, was for the youngest of Saturday’s murder victims. “Julie, best friends forever. Love from Joanne,” it said.

Last night, arrangements were being made to organise parking spaces outside the parish church to accommodate huge crowds expected to attend the combined funeral service for all four family members.

Graves have yet to be dug in the cemetery beside St Clement’s church.

Cloughbawn parish priest Fr Richard Hayes cut short his holiday upon hearing of the Flood family deaths and arrived back in Ireland yesterday. He said people were rallying to help the surviving relatives.

“[People] are in shock and deeply saddened. But there is great community spirit and a very good community that will be a great support at this time,” he said.

Earlier in the day a specialist construction company from Enniscorthy arrived to survey the safety of the shell of the Flood family home.

After the company left, forensic work resumed around the adjoining yard where Mr Flood operated his business — Sean Flood Water Pumps.

Gardaí also continued inquiries at various houses around the town as they tried to establish a motive for the killings.

Spokesman for both families Councillor Denis Kennedy said immediate relatives have been buffered from intense speculation in the media but still certain reports were troubling for the wider community.

He told Newstalk 106 the families were anxious for the funerals to take place, so people could try to begin rebuilding their lives.

“The road is now open, the traffic is going through. Whenever the funerals take place, and with the prayers of the people, we can get back to normality,” he said.