Latest news with #Fermanagh
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
‘Their infectious energy, their open smiles': Murder of mother and children has shaken Co Fermanagh community, service hears
Children dressed in red and green GAA jerseys lined a street with heads bowed as three hearses drove slowly past them in a Co Fermanagh village on Wednesday morning. One girl wept silently as coffins carrying the remains of Vanessa Whyte (45) and her children, James Rutledge (14) and daughter, Sara Rutledge (13) arrived at the gates of St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge. A female PSNI officer kept her hand raised in a salute as the hearses approached. Birdsong was the only sound. READ MORE Hundreds of people thronged the Boyhill Road beside the village church in the hour before the service of removal. Vanessa Whyte, her son James and daughter Sara died in the Drummeer Road in Maguiresbridge last week. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire It was exactly a week to the day that Ms Whyte, originally from Co Clare, and her children were shot dead in their family home, in what is being treated as suspected murder. The only suspect, Ian Rutledge (43) , who was married to Ms Whyte and the father of her children, died in hospital on Monday evening. It is an 'unspeakable loss' that has 'pierced the hearts' of 'their family, parish and country', Fr Raymond Donnelly told mourners inside St Mary's. The priest said they had come together to pay their respects 'under a weight of grief that words could not fully express'. Outside, a sea of green and red – the colours of St Mary's Maguiresbridge GFC and St Patrick's Lisbellaw hurling club of which the family were members – wound their way around the church. James was the St Mary's under-14 captain this year. The coffins of murder victims Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge are carried from St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, following a service of removal. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire One man hugged his young pony-tailed daughter as she broke down in tears. Women wearing pink florals and polka dot dresses – those attending were asked to wear 'bright and cheerful clothing' – embraced under a grey sky. Cobalt blue kits of Lisbellaw football club and the neon green tops of Maguiresbridge running club were also among the huge crowd. Mourners fell silent as Fr Donnelly spoke of how the lives of Vanessa and her children were taken 'in such an unspeakable way'. Their loss had 'shaken the community to its core' and was 'more than any heart should bear'. 'We are left shocked, grieving, heartbroken, searching for meaning: grappling with questions too deep for words,' he said. Ms Whyte was a vet at Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) at the time of her death. She previously worked at a Co Fermanagh practice, Lakeland Vets in Derrygonnelly, and its principal vet, Innes Redmond, was among those who took part in the service. 'Vanessa was a woman full of kindness and warmth, a friend to so many here,' Fr Donnelly said in his homily. 'And her children, so young, so vibrant, so full of promise. 'Their laughter rang through school corridors, through playing fields, especially on the GAA pitch, where they thrived with passion and joy. 'That zest for life, their infectious energy, their open smiles. Words fail us..' James and Sara attended Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, and its principal, Elizabeth Armstrong, delivered a reading at the beginning of the service. Classmates attended in their school uniform along with children from the siblings' former school, Maguiresbridge Primary, and in a direct address, Fr Donnelly said they should know that 'it is okay to feel confused, angry, sad and to cry'. He urged them to 'please speak to someone'. 'Speak to your parents, to your teachers, to your clergy. Grief is not something to carry alone. It is a journey we make together,' he said. 'To all involved in sport – to coaches, team-mates, mentors – thank you for the joy you helped nurture in these children. 'Their bright spirits will remain a part of every game played in their memory.' First Minister Michelle O'Neill , former first minister Arlene Foster , Fermanagh South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen, Environment Minister Andrew Muir and Brian McAvoy from Ulster GAA were among those present. As a guard of honour formed outside the church towards the service's close, strains of Nearer My God to Thee grew louder and the crowd swelled to walk behind the three coffins. Covered in fresh flowers – white roses on Ms Whyte's and vibrant red and yellow displays on her children's – the coffins were carried side by side. Requiem mass will be held in Ms Whyte's native Barefield, Co Clare at noon this Saturday, followed by burial in Templemaley Cemetery.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O'Hara named as Sligo joint-managers
Former Sligo players Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O'Hara have been appointed as joint-managers of the county's senior football squad on a three-year term. The duo, who were ratified at Monday night's county board meeting, take over from Tony McEntee, who stepped down after five years at the helm following Sligo's defeat to Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup quarter-finals. Sloyan managed the Yeats County to their first Connacht U-20 title success in 2022 and more recently was part of the Longford senior set-up under Paddy Christie. He also managed his club Easkey and is currently on the coaching ticket at Mayo club Knockmore. O'Hara, an All-Star in 2002, scored the decisive goal in Sligo's Connacht final win over Galway in 2007. Moving into management, he guided his native Tourlestrane to five county titles on the spin, before overseeing back-to-back crowns with Mohill in Leitrim. He currently manages Roscommon club Boyle. Sloyan and O'Hara's backroom team will include Con O'Meara, who was joint-manager of the Coolera-Strandhill side that won a maiden Connacht club title in 2024, and Donegal All-Ireland winner Eamon McGee.
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Suspect, 43, dies in hospital days after mum & two children shot dead in horror triple murder-suicide at Fermanagh home
A FOURTH person has died following a horrific shooting incident in Fermanagh that police are treating as a murder-suicide. The shocking incident, which took place at a house in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday, July 23, had already claimed the lives of a mother and her two children. 5 5 5 Vanessa Whyte, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were shot dead in the horrific incident. And police confirmed that Ian Rutledge, 43, who had been in a serious condition in hospital following the incident, has died this evening. The agricultural contractor was the only suspect in the murder investigation. A PSNI spokesperson said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that a fourth person has now died following a shooting incident in Maguiresbridge. "Police have named the deceased as Ian Rutledge, who was 43 years old. "Mr Rutledge was taken to hospital on Wednesday 23 July, where he remained in a serious condition. He passed away this evening, 28 July. "Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward." Cops have launched a suspected triple homicide and suicide probe. The shock incident took place in the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge early Wednesday morning. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call from inside the house at 8.21am on Wednesday. Three emergency ambulances, one rapid response paramedic, two ambulance officers and an ambulance doctor were dispatched to the scene. AWFUL TRAGEDY Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and a third died in hospital. PSNI Superintendent Robert McGowan said the incident was ongoing when police arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning. On Saturday, detectives from the major investigation team said they are continuing with their inquiries and appealed for information involving the movements of a vehicle. Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said: 'Our investigation is ongoing and we are working tirelessly to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy. 'I would continue to appeal generally for anyone with information to come forward, and more specifically, I would ask anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car 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, quoting reference 276 23/07/25. FUNERAL TO TAKE PLACE 'Anyone who was travelling in the area and who may have captured dashcam footage which could assist, please get in touch.' Vanessa, a vet who worked within the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Enniskillen, was originally from Barefield, a village near Ennis in Co Clare. It is understood that the funeral of Ms Whyte and her two children will take place in Barefield later this week. It comes after hundreds of people attended a prayer service for the mother and two kids in Barefield last night. PRAYER SERVICE Parish priest Fr Tom Fitzpatrick said that Ms Whyte was a woman who loved her children 'fiercely', and wanted the best for them. He described how she worked hard and laughed a lot, and carried burdens 'we may never fully understand'. Fr Fitzpatrick added: 'Vanessa Whyte and her son James and daughter Sara, the unspeakable tragedy that has befallen our parish is something that is very hard to focus in on and get our minds around. 'But we're here, and that's the main thing. And we are here as well, not just praying for the three of them tonight in a very special way, and asking the Lord to take them to himself, that they be at peace. And I know they are. VANESSA 'GAVE AND GAVE' 'We're also here to remember and be a support for (Vanessa's mother) Mary and her family, and the siblings. They're at home tonight, they decided not to come. It might be easier for themselves, and for ourselves here too, maybe if they were just looking in online from home. 'So we're thinking of them in a very special way. Tonight we come to remember Vanessa and to hold Vanessa's family.' Three candles representing Ms Whyte, James and Sara sat on the altar. Those gathered were told that she was a woman who 'gave and gave'. 'HER LIFE WAS INCREDIBLY PRECIOUS' Fr Fitzpatrick added: 'Vanessa was a mother. She was a daughter, a sister, an aunty and a great friend to so many people. 'She was a woman who loved her children fiercely she wanted the best for them. She worked hard, and she laughed a lot, and she carried burdens that we may never ever fully understand. 'Her life was incredibly precious. James and Sara, young lives just beginning, so full of promise, so loved, so full of light, they've been taken away from this world all too soon in a violent way. 'We just find it impossible, my dear friends, to make sense of any of it. We cannot rationalise what should never have taken place, what we can do is remember the pain that we feel now, that pain is borne out of love. 'PRICE WE PAY FOR LOVE' 'If we didn't love Vanessa, and so many of you would have known her, and if we didn't love her children, we wouldn't be grieving. This heartbreak is the price we pay for love, but it is also love in itself that will help Vanessa's family and all of us indeed, to carry it over the weeks and months to come. 'Mary, I know you're at home and you're listening. She was Vanessa's beloved mother, and her grief is a very deep ocean indeed. 'No mother should ever have to endure this. And yet, Mary, I know, will find herself surrounded by people who care deeply. He said the family's hearts have been 'fractured beyond belief'. He added: 'You have lost a sister, a niece and a nephew, and there are no words that can fill the space that they have left behind. But you're not alone. 'You are held by a community of people who are walking with you through this darkness.' 'She will meet them over the next number of days. These same people, all of us here, will stand beside her, not just during these dark days, but in the days and the weeks to come as well.' IF you've been affected contact the Samaritans on the freephone 116123 or email jo@ 5 5
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Fourth person dies following Northern Ireland shooting
A fourth person has died following a shooting in Northern Ireland last week. Police said Ian Rutledge, 43, died in hospital following the incident in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, on Wednesday. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, died earlier following the same incident. A murder investigation was launched last week. On Monday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said Mr Rutledge had been in hospital in a serious condition, and died that evening. 'Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,' the police spokesperson said. The incident took place in the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge All four people are members of the same household and all four suffered gunshot wounds, police said. Speaking at the time, detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said: 'Today, our thoughts remain with those loved ones whose worlds have been torn apart.' He continued: 'Our investigation is continuing and I am keen to reiterate our appeal for anyone with information to get in touch. 'I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who had spoken to Vanessa, Sara or James over the last few weeks. If you are someone that Vanessa, Sara or James may have confided in, please come and speak to us. 'Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem could prove crucial to our investigation.' First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, on Wednesday, expressed their shock at the tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the events which have unfolded in Maguiresbridge this morning", they said in a joint statement. "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims and their families, and the wider community."We want to pay tribute to and thank our emergency services who responded to the incident."
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Fourth person dies following Northern Ireland shooting
A fourth person has died following a shooting in Northern Ireland last week. Police said Ian Rutledge, 43, died in hospital following the incident in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, on Wednesday. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, died earlier following the same incident. murder investigation was launched last week. On Monday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said Mr Rutledge had been in hospital in a serious condition, and died that evening. 'Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,' the police spokesperson said. The incident took place in the Drummeer Road area of Maguiresbridge All four people are members of the same household and all four suffered gunshot wounds, police said. Speaking at the time, detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said: 'Today, our thoughts remain with those loved ones whose worlds have been torn apart.' He continued: 'Our investigation is continuing and I am keen to reiterate our appeal for anyone with information to get in touch. 'I am particularly keen to hear from anyone who had spoken to Vanessa, Sara or James over the last few weeks. If you are someone that Vanessa, Sara or James may have confided in, please come and speak to us. 'Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem could prove crucial to our investigation.' First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, on Wednesday, expressed their shock at the tragedy. "We are deeply saddened by the events which have unfolded in Maguiresbridge this morning", they said in a joint statement. "Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims and their families, and the wider community."We want to pay tribute to and thank our emergency services who responded to the incident."
