Charleville tragedy: Twins will be buried in communion suits

Twin brothers who were stabbed to death before their older brother took his own life will be buried today in their communion suits.

The violence nine-year-old Thomas and Paddy O’Driscoll faced in their final moments in their home in Charleville, Co Cork, last Thursday, stood in stark contrast to the peace and serenity inside O’Malley’s Funeral Home in the town last night from where their remains were removed.

The twins were laid out in open white coffins, each dressed in their smart grey communion suits they wore just a few short months ago. In folded hands, each clasped simple white rosary beads.

Dozens of treasured family photographs of the twins were resting inside the coffins, as grieving family members stood over them.

Nearby, the remains of Jonathan, 21, were also laid out. Whatever torment he faced in his final hours was not evident.

After a private moment of prayer for the family, the coffins were closed.

The family walked behind two hearses — one carrying the twins’ coffins, the other carrying Jonathan’s remains — to Holy Rosary Church where the cortege paused.

Immediate family members then accompanied the hearses which drove the short distance out the Limerick road to the family home, where the tragedy began to unfold last Thursday.

There were emotional scenes as the family paused to pray before returning to the church.

Fr Tom Naughton, who led the prayers, told the boys’ parents: “Even in the darkest loss, we know that God will bring us all back together again. That is what you must cling on to at this very dark time.”

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at noon today. The twins will be buried immediately afterwards in nearby Holy Cross Cemetery. Jonathan will be buried separately at 3pm in Kilmallock.