Foreign Affairs Minister to bury young daughter today

The funeral takes place later of the youngest daughter of Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin, who passed away last week after a short illness.

A large crowd attended the removal yesterday evening of seven-year-old Leana Martin to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough.

Leana Martin died despite the best efforts of doctors at both Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin and Great Ormonde Street Children's Hospital in London.

She had only been ill for a short time.

The seven-year-old was described in a statement by Micheál and Mary Martin as "a beautiful light" in their lives, and said they had been left heartbroken at the loss of their darling daughter.

Politicians joined family, friends and members of the public in paying their respects to the Martin family at last night's removal from a funeral home in Cork.

Leana will be laid to rest after requiem mass in Ballinlough later today.