Funeral takes place of drowned brother and sister

The funerals took place today of the brother and sister who were drowned off the coast of Belmullet in Co Mayo last Thursday.

Five-year-old Niall Murphy and his 15-year-old sister, Patricia, died after drifting out to sea on an inflatable raft.

The Church of the Sacred Heart in Belmullet was packed with mourners this morning.

Parish priest Fr Canice Hegarty said the whole community was in mourning and he sympathised with the childrens' parents, Lily and Sean Murphy.

He said Trisha Murphy had given her life in an attempt to save that of her brother.