Alicia had just celebrated her 21st

JUST three weeks ago, Alicia Brough celebrated her 21st birthday at Paddy Molly’s bar in Rockchapel in north Cork.

All her family – and her friend Sarah Hines – were there to celebrate with her. Little did they think that a few weeks later they would be making funeral arrangements for their daughter after she was killed in Newcastle West earlier this week, along with her friend, Sarah and Sarah’s two children.

Described as “talkative and outgoing” by locals, Alicia had moved to the north Cork town from Britain with her family less than 10 years ago.

It’s understood she attended Boherbue Comprehensive School.

Alicia’s family had just emerged recently from a difficult few years after her teenage brother was diagnosed with cancer of the bone. He has since recovered.

The family, described as “new age” by locals, lived in an isolated part of the countryside, about 10 miles outside the village in the direction of Tower.

“They are nice people. They’d be well known around Rockchapel. They are well integrated into the community but they wouldn’t have been regulars in the pub, into GAA or anything like that,” one man said.

Yesterday, former Fianna Fáil councillor Jack Roche said Rockchapel was in shock.

“The sympathy of the town is with the family. They also have the sympathy of the country. Everyone is still in shock. Our thoughts are with the family.”