Grieving families ask for donations to charity

The families of Michael and Valerie Greaney, who died as a result of a murder-suicide, have asked for donations to be made to a group which works with people who are considering suicide.

Michael Greaney, 53, stabbed his wife, Valerie, 49, at the family home in Cobh, Co Cork, last Sunday. The couple’s 21-year-old daughter Michelle was also stabbed a number of times but managed to escape the house. She is in a stable condition in hospital.

The alarm was raised by the couple’s 16-year-old daughter Sarah who ran to a neighbour’s house looking for help.

Funeral arrangements for the couple were published yesterday. While they will be buried following separate funeral services, it is expected they will be laid to rest together in Cobh.

Valerie Greaney will repose at Cobh hospital mortuary this evening from 5pm with a rosary at 8pm.

Tomorrow there will be reception prayers at St Colman’s Cathedral at 10.15am for 11am Requiem Mass followed by burial in St Colman’s cemetery. Father Patrick O’Donoghue will be the chief celebrant and will preach the homily at the Requiem Mass.

It is believed Michelle Greaney is hoping to attend her mother’s funeral if she is given medical clearance.

Michael Greaney, who is originally from Ballyhea in north Cork will repose at Hawes Funeral Home in Charleville from 5.30pm this evening until 8pm. He will then repose at Cobh Hospital Mortuary from 7pm tomorrow until 9pm.

The family said his funeral mass and burial will be strictly private, though it is understood he will be buried over the weekend, also in St Colman’s cemetery. The families asked the homes be strictly private and that there be family flowers only. They asked if people wished to make a donation they could do so to Breaking the Silence, a voluntary group in Cobh which works to help create a Suicide Safer Community by connecting the person at risk of suicide with life preserving resources.

It does that by providing a number of free training programmes to the community including Safe Talk, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and a Peer Support Education Programme.