Jason Faulkner laid to rest a week after his sister Scarlett

Jason Faulkner was heartbroken with grief following his sister’s death, his funeral heard

Jason Faulkner Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Jason Faulkner, was laid to rest today, a week on from his the funeral of his sister Scarlett who died from injuries sustained in an assault in Co Tipperary.

Jason Faulkner, (30s), was heartbroken with grief, following his sister’s death, heard his funeral mass at St Munchin’s Church, Limerick.

Led by a sulky, Mr Faulkner’s remains were brought to the church, rested in a gold coloured casket inside a glass carriage, driven by four white horses.

The same carriage had brought his sister Scarlett’s remains to the same church a week beforehand.

A white hummer carrying family members followed the carriage, to the sounds of I will always love you.

Chief mourners shouldered Mr Faulkner’s casket into the church, along a blue carpet and past large heart-shaped photographs of him in happier times with loved ones.

Relatives and friends wore blue t-shirts with images of Mr Faulkner on the front and back, as US country music songs played in the background on a speaker.

Reading a tribute to her brother, Victoria Faulkner said: “Jason, you have left a big hole in each and every one of our hearts, you also touched many hearts of others in this world.

“You were a good son, a brother, uncle, brother-in-law, nephew, cousin and a friend to us all, and we will miss your beautiful smile.”

Victoria Faulkner said her brother “had a heart of gold” and that she would cherish every memory they shared together.

“You were a character, you always made us laugh, you were always up for a laugh,” she continued.

Ms Faulkner said her family believed that her late brother was in a place where he could “protect our beautiful sister Scarlett”.

She asked that “anyone that is not getting on and here today, can ye just pass each other please and have respect for this family, we are going through enough; please pass each other on, we don’t want any trouble”.

Canon Donal McNamara, PP St Munchin’s Church, told mourners: “In the space of just a few days, the Faulkner family have endured the unbearable — the loss of a daughter, through violence, and now the loss of a son, through tragedy.

“Without doubt, it feels too much, too heavy and too unjust. The first thing that must be said is there are no easy answers here."

He thanked people for attending the funeral mass to support the Faulkner family “in their hour of need”.

Fr McNamara said Jason Faulkner “was moved deeply by the loss of his younger sister Scarlett, a loss that no heart could easily bear”.

“We cannot ignore the closeness of these two tragedies; the weight of grief can be overwhelming and sometimes it carries people into dark places and confusion,” said Fr McNamara.

The Limerick priest said he hoped Jason and Scarlett “are not lost to each other”.

Gifts symbolising Mr Faulkner’s life were shown on a collage of photos, placed on a billboard outside the church, including pictures of a Hugo Boss belt and aftershave, a Smirnoff vodka bottle, designer clothing and shoes, a cigarette box, a mobile phone and gold jewelry.

Afterwards Mr Faulkner was laid to rest in Meelick Cemetery, in south east county Clare.

Scarlett Faulkner died on Monday, aged 29, after sustaining serious head injuries in an assault. Her family made the decision to take her off life support after doctors said she was showing no signs of response.

The young mother, from Longpavement in Limerick city, was attacked on March 21 on a road outside Birdhill in Co Tipperary.

A woman aged in her 40s and a teenage girl have been charged in connection with the assault.