THE MOTHER of a 20-year-old woman murdered alongside her best friend and two young children in Co Limerick has spoken about how the lives of three families have been changed forever since the tragedy.
Maria Dempsey was speaking at the funeral Mass of her daughter Alicia Brough who was stabbed to death a week ago yesterday at a house in the Hazelgrove estate, in Newcastle West.
Sarah Hines (25), her five-month-old daughter Amy and her three-year-old son Reece, from Tournafulla, Co Limerick, were also killed in what locals have described as the worst single act of violence in living memory.
A 31-year-old man is in custody charged with all four murders.
The idyllic setting of the small village of Rockchapel, nestled in the mountains marking the Cork, Kerry and Limerick borders, was in stark contrast yesterday to the violent manner in which Alicia Brough died.
Originally from Staffordshire in England, the psychology student, who was due to turn 21 this week, moved to Rockchapel with her family just over six years ago.
Up to 100 mourners gathered at St Peter’s Church in the small village for yesterday’s funeral Mass.
In an emotional tribute to her eldest child, Mrs Dempsey thanked the people of Ireland and her native England for the support they have offered her family since the horrific events of last week.
“It was tragic what happened and three families’ lives have been changed forever and we’re sorry to see so much grief and wish it wasn’t so,” the mother of six said.
“I just want to thank everybody, everybody here and everybody in the country and in England who have been so kind in the words they’ve said to us. I want to thank everybody here today for coming to celebrate Alicia’s life,” she said.
Supported by her husband Paul the distraught mother finished by singing a hymn for her daughter.
