United in grief: Accused attends mother’s funeral

STANDING with his arms around his brother and sister, a man charged with killing his elderly mother earlier this week looked on as the 83-year-old was laid to rest in her native town.

Gerard Vollrath, aged 46, was charged on Tuesday night with the unlawful killing of his mother Vera Vollrath, who was found dead in her bed at the Killure Bridge Nursing Home in Co Waterford, early last Monday morning. He was freed on bail, with an independent surety of €5,000 provided by his sister Anna.

Mr Vollrath put his arms around his two siblings Anna and Paul at the Church of the Holy Cross in Tramore as they followed their mother’s coffin to the adjoining graveyard and watched as she was buried. They were joined by grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other family members, friends and neighbours.

During the funeral Mass, offertory gifts of bread and wine were brought to the altar by Gerard and Paul.

Fr Michael Twomey, speaking about the deceased, who was born Vera Power, said: “She was born in Tramore and grew up in her parents’ house and pub on Market St, along with her brother Tom, who later became a priest and served for many years in England.”

When she met Paul, a German sailor who landed in Ireland after the Second World War, they “instantly fell in love” and subsequently travelled around the country, living variously in Cork and Dublin, and spending some time in Fermoy, before settling in Tramore in 1974.

“Losing Paul suddenly, some 16 years ago, was, of course, a very sad loss in her life but she filled those years with her love of her family and community and friends,” said Fr Twomey.