25-07-2025
Hundreds gather for community vigil in memory of woman and children killed in Co Fermanagh shooting
Hundreds of people have gathered for a community vigil in memory of a woman and her two teenage children who died following a shooting in Co wrapped their arms around each other as they remembered Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, vigil was organised by a community group and held at the primary school, Maguiresbridge Primary School, where James and Sara previously attended.
A book of condolence, set up next to a framed photo of the family and surrounded by white flowers and candles, was also opened at the principal of Maguiresbridge Primary School, Honor Irvine, described both James and Sara as popular pupils who loved sport.'I'm a teaching principal so I taught them both for two years,' she said.'James was full of fun, always laughing, loved to get a laugh, loved to be outdoors.'Sara was the same. Sara loved outdoors, bit of a tomboy, and the two of them got on very well, (had) lots of friends and were very popular in school.'She described their mother Vanessa, who was a member of the parents' support group which organised fundraisers for the school, as 'full of life', and a 'roll up your sleeves, get the job done' type of said the vigil, facilitated by the school, offered a place for the community to grieve together.'It's been lovely to hear people who knew Vanessa and knew Sara and knew James, talking about them and sharing memories,' she said.'For the community, its a place to mourn together and to support and comfort each other.'
She said the family were 'much loved' and would 'live on in our memories at Maguiresbridge Primary School for many, many years to come'.'It's hard to put it into words to be honest, we're just heartbroken. And I don't think it has sunk in, it will be the days and weeks ahead when we realise the tragic loss that has happened in this community,' she added.
The vigil was organised by the Village Rural Development Association to give people an opportunity to 'come together and support each other at this difficult time'.'This is an opportunity for our village to stand together in the face of such grief,' it said in a statement on social teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes have been laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road.A fourth person, a man who was a member of the same household, remains in a serious condition in hospital in Belfast following the incident on Wednesday.A murder investigation has been launched and police said a triple murder and attempted suicide is one line of inquiry being pursued.
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