Mother and her two children laid to rest in a single oak coffin
Several hundred people attended the removal from Roche’s funeral home in Tournafulla to the local parish church, St Patrick’s.
Mourners were led by Sarah’s mother Abina, her father Christopher Hines and her stepfather Peter Rolfe.
The children’s bodies were cradled in each of Sarah’s arms and all three were wrapped in Indian cotton. Peter Rolfe said: “We wanted Sarah holding her babies so that they will know where they are going.”
Five-month-old Amy’s teddy bear and three-year-old Reece’s dinosaur were placed on top of the closed coffin along with a Spiderman.
Requiem Mass this morning will be followed by a private cremation.
One of the first to pay his respects to the bereaved family last night was retired garda Con Browne whose relayed message from the murder suspect led to the grim discovery of the four victims at Hazelgrove, Newcastle West, on Tuesday of last week.
Six of Sarah’s seven brothers also attended last night’s removal ceremony in which they helped shoulder the coffin to the church where it was blessed by parish priest Fr Willie O’Gorman.
Mr Rolfe said the family had been overwhelmed at the public sympathy and assistance they received in West Limerick.
“It has been unbelievable, the amount of support we have received in Newcastle West, Feoghanagh, Tournafulla and Dromcollogher,” he said.
The family moved to Tournafulla about 10 years ago from England and went to live in Feoghanagh three years ago.
Sarah had only moved to Newcastle West with her two children in recent weeks.
Locals came from around Tournafulla to comfort the bereaved family last night.
John Folan, 37 said: “I like many others have come to sympathise with the family. It’s an awful tragedy particularly with young children involved.”
At the request of the family a donation box for contributions to Adapt House, the women’s refuge in Limerick, was placed at the entrance to the funeral home.
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