Touching tribute to ‘incredibly special’ west Limerick woman killed in Holland

The children of a mother of eight, who died in suspicious circumstances in Holland, have paid tribute to their “amazing” mum who loved them all unconditionally with her “healing hugs”.

Martina O’Brien Viguurs, 64, a former nurse and air hostess, was found dead last Monday in her Dutch home, having sustained severe head injuries. Originally from Rathkeale, Co Limerick, Ms O’Brien also lived in Cork.

Her husband, Arnold ‘Arno’ Viguurs, has appeared before a court in the city of Den Bosch and is awaiting a decision by authorities on whether or not he will face charges over her death.

Speaking on Saturday at their mother’s funeral mass in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, four of Ms O’Brien’s children spoke lovingly of “an incredibly special woman”, who “is still an incredibly special soul”.

Daughter Martina said: “I am so proud to bear her name. We even had our own song about our shared name that we used to sing together since I was tiny.”

Fighting back tears, she added: “Each one of us eight kids had our own special things with mum that made us feel treasured and unique.

“We were all made to feel in her presence, that we were her very favourite, and she made us all feel fiercely loved,” she said.

Hundreds of mourners, some of whom had travelled from America, the UK, and the Netherlands, thronged into St Mary’s Church to pay their final respects.

Ms O’Brien’s brother John said that his caring and “glamorous” sister “adored her children and was adored by her children and grandchildren alike”.

“She showered them with love,” said John. “She leaves a big void in our lives.”

He said the past few days had been “enormously difficult” for the family.

Mr O’Brien told the packed congregation: “I invite people to erase any image that might be in their minds from what they may have read in the press of recent days, and replace those images with the ones that you hold, of the Martina you knew — strong; powerful; loyal; courageous; loving.”

Reverend William Russell, CC Rathkeale, said Ms O’Brien’s death came as a “huge shock”.

Addressing mourners he said she “dedicated a life of love and service to her eight children and 11 grandchildren”.

“Whatever I say here today will probably mean very very little consolation to your grieving hearts in these difficult times,” he told her devastated children and siblings.

Rev Russell said Ms O’Brien’s family described her “as a gentle woman, who strove to heal the hurts of those who she met”.

“And it came so naturally to her, calling on her skills as a nurse in her earlier years of her life,” he said.

After reading emotional tributes to their mother, Ms O’Brien’s children and siblings shoulder linked each other in a group hug as the congregation applauded in support.

Heartbroken family members later carried her coffin shoulder high from Rathkeale Church to the adjoining cemetery where Ms O’Brien was laid to her rest.