The mother of the two little girls killed in Ballycotton has thanked people for their support and comfort as she brought her daughters and husband back to the family home to wake them.
Una Butler (40) issued a statement in which she told of the great sadness that she felt at the deaths of her daughters, Zoe (6) and Ella (2) and her husband John (43) who died in a triple tragedy.
The bodies of Zoe and Ella were found at the family home at Ballybraher just outside Ballycotton at around 9.50am on Tuesday morning by relatives when they called to check on the girls following a car crash just ten minutes earlier in which Mr Butler died.
A statement was issued this afternoon by a Cork solicitor on behalf of Una Butler and the family of the late Mr Butler, a native of Belvelly near Cobh, as they struggled to deal with the enormity of the tragedy when befell them.
"It is with great sadness that Una Butler and the family of the late John Butler have brought home the bodies of John, Zoe and Ella to the family home at Ballycotton, John, Zoe and Ella will repose together at the family home.
"A special Mass of the Angels will take place for Zoe and Ella at the Church of the Star of the Sea in Ballycotton on Friday at 2.30pm. John’s funeral mass will take place at St Colman’s Cathedral Cobh on Saturday."
"Una and John’s family are struggling to come to terms with the enormous and tragic loss of Zoe, Ella and John, They would ask for prayers for them and for all those who are grieving," said the family in the statement.
The family is holding a private wake at the family home and the family of both Ms Butler and Mr Butler’s family requested that the media and the public would respect their privacy at this difficult time.
Earlier principal of Realt na Mara School, Derry Keogh spoke of the importance of focussing on the needs of children at the school where Zoe attended and ensuring that they received as much support and comfort as they could in this difficult time.
"We’ve had the support of the NEPS psychologist and the children were very supportive of each other and the staff and the parents – we’re getting tremendous solace from the fact so many people have us in their prayers.
"We’ve got a great number of messages through the school for the family and the great care that is out there for them - coming from people all over the world in fact which is very heartening," said Mr Keogh.
HSE South is providing a confidential drop in counselling service at the Bayview Hotel in the centre of the fishing village which will continue for the next few days for anyone who needs assistance.
Meanwhile former Cork East Labour TD, John Mulvihill said there was strong community spirit in Ballycotton where Ms Butler grew up and people would rally round in support of the grieving mother and wife.
"It’s a very close knit fishing community in Ballycotton and I know people there will rally around John’s wife, Una - John’s own family in Cobh are also a closely knit family and they will rally around and support her as well."