Kilkenny fire victims to be laid to rest

The funerals of Sharon Whelan and her two daughters who died in a house fire in Kilkenny will take place today.

Their bodies were found after a fire at their rented farmhouse in Windgap on Christmas morning.

Last night a private prayers service was held in Callan to remember the 30-year-old and her two daughters, seven-year-old Zara and two-year-old Nadia.

They will be laid to rest later today following funeral mass at St Nicolas Church in Windgap.

Initially it seemed the deaths were a tragic accident, but forensic examinations led gardaí to say they are keeping an open mind on the cause.

It has been reported that gardaí are investigating the possibility that Ms Whelan was deed before the fire swept through the building.