Grieving mum of drowning victim Freya Tobin thanks community for their support
Freya, from Newcastle, Co Tipperary, drowned after she got into difficulty while swimming in the River Suir on Friday, July 11 at around 4.20pm.
It is understood that Freya along with another friend both got into difficulty swimming around the same time. Freya's friend managed to swim to safety and raise the alarm.
A number of local boys heard the screams of the girls and dived into the water to help.
In a multi-agency response Gardaí, National Ambulance Service personnel and firefighters from Clonmel Fire Station's swift water rescue team attended the scene. Floral tributes to Freya Tobin in Newcastle, Tipperary
Freya was transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) by the Irish Coast Guard Air and Sea Rescue 117 helicopter after being recovered from the water at around 4.45pm.
The former sixth class student of Scoil Mhuire Caisleán Nua National School sadly died a short time later.
Now, in a post on social media, Freya's mum Shannen and nanny Caitriona O'Mahoney have thanked the whole community of Newcastle "from the start of this nightmare you helped us on this journey of life without Freya.'
'It would be impossible to name everyone individually because there's just too many. You helped to make the task of planning and organising our little angel's funeral and rallied around us in the darkest time of our lives.
'We felt the love you had for Freya and the compassion you showed towards us was out of this world.
'This gave us light in the darkness of days and gave us comfort knowing that Freya had a massive impact on our community.
'From the bottom of our hearts we sincerely thank you all and we will be eternally grateful.'
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Earlier, at her funeral mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Newcastle, an emotional tribute was read out on behalf of Freya's mam Shannen: 'Twelve years ago, a precious little angel was sent to me. A beautiful, dark haired little baby with the most beautiful, piercing blue eyes. I named her Freya, after the Goddess of love and beauty, and by God, did she honour that name.
'She instantly filled mine and my family's life with so much love. Her funny, happy and caring personality only grew stronger as each year passed. She was not only my daughter, but my best friend and my life.
'She shone a light even on the darkest of days,' Freya's mam's tribute continued.
'I was so proud of how much love she brought to everyone, no matter where she was, and I'll never forget the way that Freya would light up her room just by entering it, the brightness she brought would never fade.'
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