Hopes ill sister can attend funeral

THE funeral of the woman who died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning last weekend is to take place on Sunday, raising hopes that her older sister who was also poisoned, may be able to attend.

There had been fears that the funeral of Miriam Reidy might take place earlier, meaning her sister Patricia would not be well enough to go to the ceremony.

Patricia Reidy had been staying in the same hotel room in Kinsale as her sister Miriam, who passed away after a hen party night. Patricia has made good progress since being admitted to Cork University Hospital last Sunday.

But, although she has been transferred from the intensive care unit to a public ward, medical staff had told her family, including her parents John and Josie, and older sister Siobhan, that she would almost certainly not be well enough to attend Miriam’s funeral. Undertakers are believed to have told the family that 35-year-old Miriam’s body must be buried by next Monday at the latest.

Therefore Patricia had been hoping doctors would allow her to return to the family home in Ballyhahill, Co Limerick, even for a couple of hours to enable her to say farewell to her beloved sister.

The delay in the funeral to Sunday means she may be able to attend for longer now.

Yesterday afternoon, a family friend said: “The family is in the process of finalising funeral arrangements but things have been delayed as they wait to find out if Patricia is well enough to attend. The body will have to be buried by Monday and it would break Patricia’s heart if she couldn’t get to see her sister one final time.”

Last night the Reidy family and Miriam’s partner Pio Boyle issued a statement describing Miriam as a wonderful daughter, a thoughtful and kind sister and friend and the “love of Pio’s life”.

“We thank God that Patricia (Trish) was spared and would like to extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for all the prayers and support we have received during this very difficult time,” they said.

Meanwhile, Garda investigations into the cause of the tragedy at Kinsale’s Trident Hotel are continuing. The upmarket hotel is likely to remain closed for several weeks, as gardaí and a team of engineers continue their investigations.