Funeral of Fermanagh shooting victims hears of ‘tragic and unspeakable loss' as mourners gather in Clare
The funeral service in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Doora Barefield, Co Clare - Ms Whyte's native county – honoured the 'irreplaceable part' that all three played in their family, sports teams and workplace.
Although a native of Clare, Ms Whyte relocated to Fermanagh, but never lost touch with her Clare GAA roots, instead sharing them with James and Sara.
Addressing the thronging crowds of mourners inside and outside of the church, Bishop of Ferns, Ger Nash spoke about the senselessness of their sudden deaths.
"Here in Barefield church today with Vanessa, James, and Sara, we are in the land of 'I don't know,'' he said.
"The tragic events of last week, and the ripping away of three people from their family and friends leave us searching for answers and coming back again and again to the only answer that is completely true: 'We don't know.''
Bishop Nash spoke about how deeply embedded Ms Whyte and her children were in Clare GAA, despite living outside the county.
'She gave that love of her native county and Gaelic games to James and Sara, and they were themselves at the centre of a community of friends in sport, school and all the things that mark the lives of young people.
"They followed Clare hurlers in good times and bad, putting the rest of us to shame by the length of the journeys they took to attend matches.'
He continued: 'The Whyte family: you know how you are held in your sorrow by the community here in Barefield and in Clare, but also in Maguiresbridge and Fermanagh.
"At great cost, you have discovered that many people want to walk with you on your journey of pain.'
Bishop Nash spoke of the 'energy and commitment' Ms Whyte gave to her children, described in a touching anecdote.
"She encouraged James and Sara in their growing independence as young people but always hovered in the background in case the independence wasn't working out.
"As an example, her family spoke yesterday of Vanessa dropping James to Cúl Camp, telling him to get stuck in, but then hanging around the gate of the field with a watchful eye in case it didn't work out.'
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