Student's funeral may take place at weekend

The funeral of the schoolgirl who drowned in her Co Kilkenny home in unexplained circumstances is expected to take place in Co…

The funeral of the schoolgirl who drowned in her Co Kilkenny home in unexplained circumstances is expected to take place in Co Tipperary at the weekend following the release of her remains to her family.

The house where Ciara Gibbs (16) was found dead last Sunday is now no longer being treated as a possible crime scene.

The girl's mother, psychiatrist Dr Lynn Hutchinson, was found in a collapsed state in the family home at Kilure, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny.

The property had been sealed off by gardaí and underwent extensive forensic and technical examination until yesterday. However, with those investigations having been exhausted the property was returned to the family yesterday.

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Garda sources said Dr Hutchinson is still not in a fit mental or physical condition to be interviewed about her daughter's death.

Supt Aiden Roche of Thomastown, who is leading the Garda investigation, said he is "in daily contact with the medical authorities" who would advise him when Dr Hutchinson is fit to speak with detectives.

Other sources said the interview was unlikely to take place for a number of days.

Gardaí are hopeful Dr Hutchinson may be able to provide vital information that will address the unexplained nature of her daughter's drowning. They believe the teenager drowned in the bath at the family home. There were no signs of violence on her body or in the house.

However, they are keeping an open mind and foul play has not been ruled out.

They are awaiting toxicology reports which will reveal if the deceased ingested anything which may have contributed to her drowning. Gardaí have declined to release the results of a postmortem carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy on Monday for "operational reasons".

Teachers and students from Loreto secondary school in Kilkenny city, are assisting with plans for the funeral. Principal Helen Renehan described her former pupil as "a beautiful, talented young girl" and said "the school community, students, staff and families" were "grieving deeply".