A funeral mass for the two little girls killed in Co Cork earlier this week took place at the Church of the Star of the Sea in Ballycotton this afternoon.
Zoe (6) and Ella (2), and their father John Butler (43) died in a triple tragedy on Tuesday morning that has shocked and numbed the community.
The children’s mother Una Butler (40) yesterday thanked people for their support and comfort as she brought the bodies of her daughters and husband back to the family home.
In a statement yesterday, she told of the great sadness that she felt at the deaths of her daughters.
The bodies of Zoe and Ella were found at the family home at Ballybraher just outside Ballycotton at about 9.50am on Tuesday by relatives when they called to check on the girls following a car crash just 10 minutes earlier in which Mr Butler perished.
A statement was issued by a Cork solicitor on behalf of Ms Butler and the family of the late Mr Butler, a native of Belvelly near Cobh.
“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 [today] at 2.30pm. John’s funeral Mass will take place at St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, [tomorrow],” said the family in the statement.
Pointing out that last night’s wake at the family home was private, both Ms Butler and Mr Butler’s family requested that the media and the public would respect their privacy.
Earlier Derry Keogh, principal of Réalt na Mara school, spoke of the importance of focusing 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 [National Educational Psychological Service] psychologist and the children were very supportive of each other and the staff and the parents,” Mr Keogh said. “We’re getting tremendous solace from the fact so many people have us in their prayers.”
State agencies have also been involved, with the HSE South providing a confidential drop-in counselling service at the Bayview Hotel in the centre of the fishing village since yesterday, which will continue over the coming days for anyone who needs assistance.
An accomplished Gaelic footballer with both Cobh and Imokilly, Mr Butler had worked in Irish Steel for a number of years but in more recent times had worked in construction. He was laid off about a year ago.