Removal takes place of minister’s daughter
Léana, 7, who had been ill with a heart condition, passed away in Great Ormond Street Hospital in London on Friday.
She will lie in repose at O’Connor’s Funeral Home in Temple Hill from 3.30 this afternoon.
Her removal will take place to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough at 6.30pm. The funeral Mass will take place at 11.30am tomorrow.
Today’s Cabinet meeting to discuss the budget has been postponed as a mark of respect and the Taoiseach and ministers are expected to attend the removal.
Mr Martin, his wife Mary, and their family were at the bedside of Léana when she passed away on Friday.
In a statement, the couple described their heartbreak at the loss of their daughter, saying: “She was a beautiful light in our lives.”
It is the second time the couple have suffered the devastation of losing a child – their baby son Ruairi died in 1999.
The couple have three other children – Micheál Aodh, 16, Aoibhe, 14, and Cillian, 10.
Léana had spent two weeks in Crumlin Children’s Hospital before her condition worsened and she was transferred to Great Ormond Street at the beginning of last week.
President Mary McAleese led the condolences to the family over the weekend, saying Léana’s death was an “unbearable loss” for her family.
“I know the people of Ireland will feel immense sympathy for the Martin family as they face this devastating bereavement,” President McAleese said. “I have conveyed my heartfelt sympathies, and those of my husband Martin and family, to Micheál and Mary. We are keeping them all in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time.”
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