Single coffin removes mother and two children

IN a poignant scene, a single coffin was used to remove the bodies of Sarah Hines and her two children, Amy and Reece, from the murder scene at Hazel Grove estate yesterday afternoon.

The remains of the fourth victim, Alicia Brough, were carried in a separate coffin.

The parish priest of Newcastle West, Canon Frank Duhig said prayers as the two hearses moved away from No 18 Hazel Grove.

A special prayer service for the victims will be offered up in the parish church this afternoon.

Canon Duhig said locals were numb and bewildered, wondering what tragedy could come next.

“They were full of fear initially, as people did not know what had happened. There was a lot of fear.

“We were very concerned for the children in the schools and we have been talking to the teachers and the principals and they are doing everything they can. They will do their very best there.

“We are also very concerned for the parents of young children. You can only imagine what it was like – the questions children were likely to ask their parents last night. These people are very much in our thoughts.”

People in surrounding parishes shared in the pain, he said, having suffered various other tragedies during the past year.