Chris Crowley funeral takes place of

The funeral of Christopher Crowley, the maths teacher who last week shot his six-year-old daughter before turning his gun on himself, was held in Cork today.

Christine O’Sullivan, the child’s mother and Mr Crowley’s former partner, joined members of his family at the service in the Church of the Way of the Cross in Togher.

The 44-year-old Co Cork man had spent 20 months on the run with Deirdre after abducting her but killed them both last Thursday, just minutes after plainclothes detectives tracked him down to his rented cottage in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.

Parish priest Fr Michael Riordan told 300 mourners at the service: ‘‘There are two elements in this. One is obvious to all of us - intense suffering, anguish, sorrow.

‘‘There is also another element to the whole tragic saga and that’s the element of love.

‘‘It was obvious that Chris did what he did out of a tremendous love, some might say excessive but we are not into judging or analysing. We are just stating a fact.’’

He also noted the love expressed by Ms O’Sullivan by ‘‘leaving no stone unturned’’ since her daughter was snatched following a weekend visit to her father in December 1999.

Angela Crowley, Mr Crowley’s sister-in-law, thanked those who had given sympathy, kind words and support ‘‘during this very sad time’’.

She said: ‘‘The Crowley family extend once again our sincere condolences to Christine and her family on their terrible loss.

‘‘No words can express our grief for both Chris and Deirdre. All we can hope and pray for now is that God grants them eternal happiness together and that they may forever rest in peace.’’

Shortly before the service she rang a local radio station where a DJ and clinical psychologist were discussing the possible causes of the tragedy and described the assertion that people who acted in such a way could come from violent or abusive backgrounds as ‘‘extremely unprofessional’’.

She said there was another side to the story which would emerge, and that her brother-in-law had acted out of love.

Deirdre was buried in Kishkeam cemetery, Co Cork, on Sunday following a funeral service in Ballydesmond where Ms O’Sullivan, 39, spoke of praying to God for her daughter’s safe return.

An internal police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the double shooting has been launched, after it emerged officers returned to Mr Crowley’s cottage for a second time after hearing a ‘‘muffled’’ sound to find a firearm beside the two bodies.

It is reported that Deirdre had been locked the bathroom and that Mr Crowley had grown a beard and wore a baseball cap in a bid to disguise his identity.