‘Broken hearts and many tears': Poignant service for mum and children killed in Fermanagh shooting
The man suspected of killing them before turning the gun on himself, 43-year-old Ian Rutledge, died in hospital on Monday.
Prayers will be said at St Mary's Church this morning before the remains of the mum and her teenage children are taken to Co Clare where a funeral Mass will be held on Saturday.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill is among those attending the service for removal which began at 11am with the singing of hymns including Abide With Me and a reading from the Old Testament book of Lamentations.
The homily will be delivered by Father Kevin Donnelly who acknowledged the church is 'filled with grief'.
A death notice stated 'it is with broken hearts and many tears' that the family announce the tragic passing 'of our beloved Vanessa and her adored children'.
'Cherished and much-loved Vanessa, James and Sara will forever be in the hearts of their heartbroken family, remembered fondly by a devoted mother and loving grandmother Mary Whyte, sisters and brothers (aunts & uncles) Geraldine, Anita, Steve, Regina & Ivor and by their respective partners Michael, Bernie, Ciara and Anita's husband James," it adds.
'Sadly missed by all their heartbroken cousins Deirbhíle, Erin, James, Danielle, Aishling, Jack and Harry Joe.
"They will be greatly missed by the extended Whyte family, friends, work colleagues and the wider GAA communities in both Fermanagh and Clare.'
Vanessa is pre-deceased by her father and the children's grandfather Joe Whyte and her infant sister.
Following the shootings, police said a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry detectives were pursuing.
The Belfast Telegraph understands a legally held weapon was used in the shooting.
The police investigation is ongoing, despite the death of the only suspect.
Ms Whyte (45) and her daughter Sara Rutledge (13) died from gunshot wounds at their home on Drummeer Road, Maguiresbridge, last Wednesday, while 14-year-old James died from his injuries in hospital the following day.
The only suspect in the case, Ian Rutledge, died from his injuries in hospital on Monday.
This newspaper also understands the 999 emergency call was made from the home on July 23 at around 8am from Sara's phone before first responders arrived at the scene which police described as 'harrowing'.
Rutledge was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital and was kept on life support until Monday.
It's understood that one line of inquiry is that Rutledge left the home in Fermanagh he shared with Ms Whyte and their children the night before the shootings to retrieve a legally held weapon from a different location, with police keen to trace the movements of his silver Mercedes saloon car.
Maguiresbridge vigil takes place as book of condolence opens at young shooting victims' former school
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness has asked anyone who saw the vehicle being driven in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on the evening of Tuesday, July 22, to call detectives on 101.
'Anyone who was travelling in the area and who may have captured dash-cam footage which could assist, please get in touch,' he added.
Vanessa, James and Sara will repose together in The Church of The Immaculate Conception in Barefield from 3pm to 7pm on Friday.
Private removal will take place on Saturday morning with the funeral cortege arriving for Requiem Mass at 12pm before the family is laid to rest in Templemaley Cemetery.
Mourners have been asked to wear bright and cheerful colours in celebration of their lives.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Women's Aid.
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Glasgow Times
10 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Murdered mother and children ‘together and finally safe'
Crowds flooded into the Co Clare village of Barefield for the funeral of Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, who died in a shooting at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh. Many of the mourners wore GAA jerseys and bright colours as requested by the family as they lined the main street to watch the three hearses pass by. Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara Rutledge and James Rutledge died following a shooting in Co Fermanagh (Handout/PA) Those in attendance at the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday included a representative for the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and GAA president Jarlath Burns. Delivering the eulogy, Ms Whyte's sister Regina said they have been robbed of their loved ones. 'Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner – there are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends,' she said. 'We as a family have been robbed of both a relationship with our sister and a chance to see James and Sara grow up, and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. 'It has taken us 11 days to be in a position to have Vanessa, James and Sara back to Clare. Crowds turned out for the service (Noel Sweeney/PA) 'This was supposed to be a joyous occasion where Vanessa would see her new nephew, and Sara and James would meet their baby cousin for the first time. Instead we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. 'For us as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. 'Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever, as they were when they were alive.' She described her sister as 'witty, bright, kind and determined', and said James and Sara were the 'focus of her world'. She recalled James's love of the GAA, playing both hurling and football, and also cricket, adding he has been acknowledged as the 'kind, bright, determined teenager we as a family know so well'. 'James's smile was infectious, and his loyalty was strong,' she said. GAA President Jarlath Burns attended the funeral (Noel Sweeney/PA) Sara was remembered as having a deep love for animals, and aspiring to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a vet, as well as loving sport. 'She was an excellent hurler, a footballer and skilled at netball. She was a team player, a quiet leader, and like every sister, never let James away with anything,' she said. Amazing Grace and Somewhere Over The Rainbow were among the music played during the service. Bishop Ger Nash, Bishop of Ferns and a family friend, described heartbreak over the 'tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world'. Delivering the homily, he said every story and shared memory since their deaths 'reminds us of the irreplaceable part they played in the lives of their families, their community, their schools, workplaces, teams and clubs'. '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',' he said. Members of the St Joseph's Doora-Barefield GAA Club formed part of the guard of honour (Noel Sweeney/PA) He noted messages of condolences for the mother and her children including from neighbours, but also many from those who simply described themselves as 'A Waterford Mammy', 'A Cork Granny', and 'A Wicklow Mother'. 'There were some with both dads and mams mentioned, but there were many where a woman spoke from her own heart,' he said. 'They don't know you, nor you them, but they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms, then they have learned that life is precious, and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love. 'Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children, but also conscious that there were heartbroken mothers left behind. 'The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain.' Last week crowds also turned out for Ms Whyte, James and Sara for a service of removal in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. Police in Northern Ireland have said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Ms Whyte, James and Sara are to be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery later.
Powys County Times
11 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Murdered mother and children ‘together and finally safe'
A murdered mother and her children are 'together and finally safe', their funeral has heard. Crowds flooded into the Co Clare village of Barefield for the funeral of Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, who died in a shooting at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh. Many of the mourners wore GAA jerseys and bright colours as requested by the family as they lined the main street to watch the three hearses pass by. Those in attendance at the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday included a representative for the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and GAA president Jarlath Burns. Delivering the eulogy, Ms Whyte's sister Regina said they have been robbed of their loved ones. 'Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner – there are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends,' she said. 'We as a family have been robbed of both a relationship with our sister and a chance to see James and Sara grow up, and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. 'It has taken us 11 days to be in a position to have Vanessa, James and Sara back to Clare. 'This was supposed to be a joyous occasion where Vanessa would see her new nephew, and Sara and James would meet their baby cousin for the first time. Instead we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. 'For us as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. 'Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever, as they were when they were alive.' She described her sister as 'witty, bright, kind and determined', and said James and Sara were the 'focus of her world'. She recalled James's love of the GAA, playing both hurling and football, and also cricket, adding he has been acknowledged as the 'kind, bright, determined teenager we as a family know so well'. 'James's smile was infectious, and his loyalty was strong,' she said. Sara was remembered as having a deep love for animals, and aspiring to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a vet, as well as loving sport. 'She was an excellent hurler, a footballer and skilled at netball. She was a team player, a quiet leader, and like every sister, never let James away with anything,' she said. Amazing Grace and Somewhere Over The Rainbow were among the music played during the service. Bishop Ger Nash, Bishop of Ferns and a family friend, described heartbreak over the 'tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world'. Delivering the homily, he said every story and shared memory since their deaths 'reminds us of the irreplaceable part they played in the lives of their families, their community, their schools, workplaces, teams and clubs'. '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',' he said. He noted messages of condolences for the mother and her children including from neighbours, but also many from those who simply described themselves as 'A Waterford Mammy', 'A Cork Granny', and 'A Wicklow Mother'. 'There were some with both dads and mams mentioned, but there were many where a woman spoke from her own heart,' he said. 'They don't know you, nor you them, but they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms, then they have learned that life is precious, and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love. 'Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children, but also conscious that there were heartbroken mothers left behind. 'The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain.' Last week crowds also turned out for Ms Whyte, James and Sara for a service of removal in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. Police in Northern Ireland have said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Ms Whyte, James and Sara are to be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery later.
ITV News
13 hours ago
- ITV News
Mother and children murdered in Co Fermanagh ‘together and finally safe' funeral told
A mother and her two children murdered in Co Fermanagh are 'together and finally safe', their funeral has heard. Crowds flooded into the Co Clare village of Barefield for the funeral of Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, who died in a shooting at their home in Maguiresbridge. Many of the mourners wore GAA jerseys and bright colours as requested by the family as they lined the main street to watch the three hearses pass by. Those in attendance at the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday included a representative for the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and GAA president Jarlath Burns. Delivering the eulogy, Ms Whyte's sister Regina said they have been robbed of their loved ones. 'Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner – there are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends,' she said. 'We as a family have been robbed of both a relationship with our sister and a chance to see James and Sara grow up, and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. 'It has taken us 11 days to be in a position to have Vanessa, James and Sara back to Clare. 'This was supposed to be a joyous occasion where Vanessa would see her new nephew, and Sara and James would meet their baby cousin for the first time. Instead we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. 'For us as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. 'Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever, as they were when they were alive.' She described her sister as 'witty, bright, kind and determined', and said James and Sara were the 'focus of her world'. She recalled James' love of the GAA, playing both hurling and football, and also cricket, adding he has been acknowledged as the 'kind, bright, determined teenager we as a family know so well'. 'James' smile was infectious, and his loyalty was strong,' she said. Sara was remembered as having a deep love for animals, and aspiring to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a vet, as well as loving sport. 'She was an excellent hurler, a footballer and skilled at netball. She was a team player, a quiet leader, and like every sister, never let James away with anything,' she said. Amazing Grace and Somewhere Over The Rainbow were among the music played during the service. Bishop Ger Nash, Bishop of Ferns and a family friend, described heartbreak over the 'tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world'. Delivering the homily, he said every story and shared memory since their deaths 'reminds us of the irreplaceable part they played in the lives of their families, their community, their schools, workplaces, teams and clubs'. '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',' he said. He noted messages of condolences for the mother and her children including from neighbours, but also many from those who simply described themselves as 'A Waterford Mammy', 'A Cork Granny', and 'A Wicklow Mother'. 'There were some with both dads and mams mentioned, but there were many where a woman spoke from her own heart,' he said. 'They don't know you, nor you them, but they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms, then they have learned that life is precious, and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love. 'Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children, but also conscious that there were heartbroken mothers left behind. 'The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain.' Last week crowds also turned out for Ms Whyte, James and Sara for a service of removal in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. The PSNI have said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Ms Whyte, James and Sara will be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
