Latest news with #CountyFermanagh
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Mother 'full of kindness and warmth' and her two 'vibrant' children were killed 'in unspeakable way', priest tells mourners after 'husband killed all three and turned gun on himself'
A mother and her two children were killed 'in an unspeakable way' when the three of them were shot dead in their quiet home village, a priest has said. Vanessa Whyte and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, died on Wednesday last week in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Police said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry after Ms Whyte's husband allegedly 'killed all three and turned the gun on himself'. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. At a service of removal in Maguiresbridge ahead of the funeral in Co Clare on Saturday, mourners gathered this morning at St Mary's Church to pay their respects. Several were dressed in bright colours following a request from the family and large crowds lined the streets outside the church in advance of the service. In his homily, Father Raymond Donnelly said: 'The loss of Vanessa and her two beautiful children, James and Sara - lives taken in such an unspeakable way - is more than any heart should bear. 'A woman full of kindness and warmth, a friend to so many here. The coffins of 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 '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. And when words fail, we turn to the word of God.' He added: 'There is a heaviness in the air, a silence within our hearts, that speaks volumes. 'The tragedy we have endured has shaken this community, and our country, to its core. 'We are left shocked, grieving, heartbroken, searching for meaning, grappling with questions too deep for words.' During the service, a reading was delivered by Elizabeth Armstrong, principal of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where Sara and James were pupils. Three ambulances and an air ambulance were called to a property in Drummeer Road at around 8.20am, where Ms Whyte, a government veterinary surgeon, alongside one of the children, was tragically pronounced dead. The other child was airlifted by air ambulance to to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen where they sadly later died as a result of their injuries. A critically injured man from the same household was treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. But police confirmed Ian Rutledge died on Monday. Ms Whyte, originally from Co Clare, and her two children have been described as 'active and beloved' members of both St Mary's Maguiresbridge Gaelic Football Club and Lisbellaw St. Patrick's Hurling Club in the area. Meanwhile, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School said it was mourning 'the loss of two vibrant and much valued pupils'. The priest told the grieving family members 'you are not alone'. Speaking at the service of removal the priest told grieving family members they are 'not alone', adding 'we stand with you'. He said: 'We hold you in prayer and embrace. We do not have answers, but we offer presence. We offer prayer. We offer love. 'To the classmates of Sara and James and to all the friends, know that it is OK to feel confused, angry, sad and to cry. 'Please speak to someone. Speak to your parents, to your teachers, to your clergy.' Fr Donnelly told mourners that grief is 'not something to carry alone'. He said: 'It is a journey we make together. 'To all involved in sport - to coaches, teammates, 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. 'And we take a moment to thank all first responders and medics. Thank you for your service under unimaginable circumstances. 'Thank you to all who have come forward with meals, hugs, tears, prayers, practical and pastoral support or a silent presence. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill (second left) leaves following the service of removal for the victims 'You remind us that light still flickers, even on the darkest of days.' Candles were lit in memory of the three victims. The bodies will be taken to Barefield in Co Clare, where Ms Whyte was originally from, ahead of their funeral Mass on Saturday. The three will then be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Suspect in fatal shooting of mother and her two children in Northern Ireland dies in hospital
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a mother and her two children in Northern Ireland has died. Ian Rutledge, a 43-year-old agricultural worker, had himself suffered a gunshot wound in the village of Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh on Wednesday morning. He was taken to hospital where he remained in a serious condition until the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced he had died on Monday evening. It is understood he was the only suspect in the murder investigation. a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were all shot dead at a property on Drummeer Road during the attack. The PSNI said last week that all four people who were shot were members of the same household. Police have been investigating whether the attack was a triple murder and attempted suicide. A prayer service took place for Ms Whyte and the two children in Barefield, County Clare on Sunday, following a community vigil in Maguiresbridge last Friday. A funeral service is expected to take place in County Clare later this week. Following Mr Rutledge's death, the PSNI said detectives have "reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward". It comes after the PSNI issued an appeal on Saturday for information involving the movements of a vehicle. They have asked 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 22 July to call detectives on 101. Read more from Sky News: Tributes paid to 'lovely-natured' children A local Gaelic football club said last week that Ms White and her children were all "active and beloved" members of their club. Sara and James Rutledge also used to be part of a local cricket club, which said in a statement that it was "extremely saddened by the tragic events". "Both of them turned out to be talented young cricketers and two absolutely lovely-natured children," the statement read. Flowers, teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes were laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road in the days after the shooting.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Sky News
Suspect in fatal shooting of mother and her two children in Northern Ireland dies in hospital
The suspect in the fatal shooting of a mother and her two children in Northern Ireland has died. Ian Rutledge, a 43-year-old agricultural worker, had himself suffered a gunshot wound during the attack in the village of Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh on Wednesday morning. He was taken to hospital where he remained in a serious condition until the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced he had died on Monday evening. It is understood he was the only suspect in the murder investigation. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were all shot dead at a property on Drummeer Road during the attack. The PSNI said last week that all four people who were shot were members of the same household. Police have been investigating whether the attack was a triple murder and attempted suicide. A prayer service took place for Ms Whyte and the two children in Barefield, County Clare on Sunday, following a community vigil in Maguiresbridge last Friday. A funeral service is expected to take place in County Clare later this week. Following Mr Rutledge's death, the PSNI said detectives have "reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward". It comes after the PSNI issued an appeal on Saturday for information involving the movements of a vehicle. They have asked 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 22 July to call detectives on 101. Tributes paid to 'lovely-natured' children A local Gaelic football club said last week that Ms White and her children were all "active and beloved" members of their club. Sara and James Rutledge also used to be part of a local cricket club, which said in a statement that it was "extremely saddened by the tragic events". "Both of them turned out to be talented young cricketers and two absolutely lovely-natured children," the statement read. Flowers, teddy bears and an Arsenal football top with written notes were laid close to scene of the incident in Drummeer Road in the days after the shooting.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Maguiresbridge: Murder victims will be buried together in County Clare
Vanessa Whyte and her two children, who were murdered in County Fermanagh, will be buried together in her home town in County Clare. The 45-year-old and her children, 14-year-old James Rutledge and 13-year-old Sara Rutledge, were shot and killed in their home in Maguiresbridge on Monday night the man suspected of killing them, Ian Rutledge (43) died in hospital. Last week police said a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry for detectives. Prayer service held in County Clare for mother and childrenSchool to remember murdered brother and sister 'for years to come'Childminder said she loved murdered children 'like they were her own'Shooting victim was 'devoted mum to Sara and James' Funeral arrangements for Ms Whyte and her children were announced on Monday night. In a post on social media the funeral directors said: "People attending the service of removal and funeral Mass are asked to please wear bright and cheerful colours in their memory."A service of removal will take place at St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge at 11:00 BST on Wednesday 30 funeral Mass will be held in Vanessa Whyte's home town of Barefield, County Clare on Saturday 2 August."Following Mass, Vanessa, James and Sara will be laid to rest together in Templemaley Cemetery," they said. Emergency services were called to their home on the Drummeer Road on Wednesday morning. Two of the victims were declared dead at the scene and a third victim died later that day in after the attack, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told a news conference a man from the same household was in hospital with gunshot wounds. The PSNI's district commander said that no arrests had been made and at that stage it was not anticipated that any would be made. On Monday, detectives investigating the shooting reiterated their appeal for "anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward". On Saturday, they issued an appeal over the movements of a silver Mercedes between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler on the day before the shootings. Tributes to murder victims Sara and James were both students at Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and were former pupils of Maguiresbridge Primary School in their home of mourners attended a vigil for the family in the primary school's grounds on Friday. Several senior politicians were present as religious representatives addressed the vigil, and a minute's silence was held as a mark of respect for the victims. A prayer service also took place on Sunday evening at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Barefield, County the service, the parish priest, Fr Tom Fitzpatrick, told mourners:"Let us remember Vanessa not just by the way she died, but by the life she lived, her smile, her strength, her incredible powerful love for her children. "She gave it her all to the very end.""We remember James and Sara, not just as victims of violence, but as children who played and who laughed and had their favourite stories, of course favourite foods I'm sure as well, and great dreams," he added."Dreams that will never be fulfilled, but dreams that mattered because they were theirs."If you are affected by any of the issues in this article, details of organisations that can offer help and support are available on the BBC Action Line.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
Fourth person dies after shooting last week in Northern Ireland
A fourth person has died after a shooting in County Fermanagh in which a mother and two children were killed. Police said Ian Rutledge, 43, had died in hospital after the incident in Maguiresbridge last Wednesday. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, died earlier. A murder investigation was launched last week. Northern Ireland police said a triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Monday that Rutledge had been in hospital in a serious condition, and had died. 'Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,' a police spokesperson said. The shooting stunned the rural community and prompted tributes to the victims. 'We are heartbroken. May they rest in peace,' a note left with flowers at the scene said. Whyte, originally from Ennis, County Clare in the Republic of Ireland, reportedly moved to Fermanagh several years ago and was employed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Enniskillen. Colleagues and friends told local media she was a popular, down-to-earth woman who was devoted to her children. Enniskillen Royal grammar school said it was mourning 'the loss of two vibrant and much valued pupils'. The ambulance service said it had received a call at 8.21am on Wednesday and dispatched emergency crews to the scene, where Whyte and one child were pronounced dead. An air ambulance took the injured man to the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast while an ambulance took the other child to a hospital in Enniskillen, where the teenager was pronounced dead. Pat Cullen, the Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said people were mourning valued members of the community. 'Two wee children have lost their lives and a mummy, when they just should be enjoying the school holidays and having a wonderful time,' she told the BBC.
