Funeral hears of ‘unspeakable loss’ of murdered mum and children

A mother and her two children who were murdered last week have been remembered as an “irreplaceable part” of their community at their funeral service in County Clare.

Veterinary surgeon Vanessa Whyte, 45, her 14-year-old son James Rutledge and 13-year-old daughter Sara Rutledge were shot dead in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh.

The Bishop of Ferns, Ger Nash, spoke of how “heartbroken” their loved ones are at the “tragic and unspeakable loss”.

They will be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery, Barefield.

Bishop Nash added that the condolence messages left by some women who do not know the family highlight “the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others”, and that the messages are “signs of solidarity in the face of that pain”.

The congregation heard that Vanessa was “hardworking, honest and always ready to lend a helping hand” as a blue card and cattle tags, which help to identify animals, were placed beside her coffin to symbolise her career as a vet.

A hurl was placed next to James’ coffin, as the pitch was his “second home” and he spent countless hours there with his friends and teammates.

Mourners were told he played with pride, but that it “was the spirit he carried off it – loyalty, dependability and kindness” that defined him.

A cat toy was placed in tribute to Sara’s “love for animals” and her “gentle presence”.

She was remembered for her love of life’s simple joys, including baking a cake and playing sport as well as her “soft yet strong” spirit.

Mourners attending the funeral have been asked to wear bright and cheerful colours in their memory.

Pupils from Enniskillen Royal Grammar, where James and Sara went to school, are among those who have come to pay their respects.

Just before 11:30 local time, three black hearses returned to the church of the immaculate conception in Barefield, County Clare.

Hundreds of people lined the route from St Mary’s GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) in Maguiresbridge and St Patrick’s Hurling club in Lisbellaw where the family were members.

The purple and navy of Vanessa’s childhood club, St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, is represented in even bigger numbers.

On Friday, hundreds gathered in the village to pay respect to Ms Whyte and her children as they lay in repose together.

Fr Brendan Quinlivan from the Diocese of Killaloe, said there has been such an “incredible sense of sympathy and empathy and outpouring of grief for all of Vanessa’s family”.

“There are no words that are adequate to describe the depth of feeling and the sense of tragedy that is being felt by Vanessa’s family, but also by the community,” he said.

He spoke about Vanessa Whyte and that when she was younger, living in Barefield, she was “a very vivacious and lively young person”.

He added that her career as a veterinary surgeon is “a reflection of the generosity of spirit that would have been very much part of her and her family, and that she received from her family”.

Emergency services were called to the home of Ms Whyte and her children on the Drummeer Road on 23 July, a rural area about 75 miles (121km) west of Belfast and about eight miles from the county’s largest town, Enniskillen.

Two of the victims were declared dead at the scene and a third died later that day in South West Acute Hospital.

Hours after the attack, police said a man from the same household was in hospital with gunshot wounds.

Following the shootings, police said a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry for detectives.

On Monday night, the man suspected of the killings, 43-year-old Ian Rutledge, died in hospital.

Detectives investigating the shooting also reiterated their appeal for “anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward”.