Huge congregation hears of 'cherished wife and mother'

GRIEVING NURSES formed a guard of honour in the rain yesterday as the coffin bearing a murdered colleague was brought to its …

GRIEVING NURSES formed a guard of honour in the rain yesterday as the coffin bearing a murdered colleague was brought to its last resting place in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Earlier, an overflow congregation in the Church of the Holy Rosary heard Carmel Marrinan described as “a cherished wife, mother, colleague and friend.”

Fr Fergal Cunnane, principal celebrant of the funeral Mass, said the mother of seven had lived life to the full and had blessed those around her with life, happiness and joy.

Mrs Marrinan (61) died early last Tuesday morning after being stabbed in the family home at Blackfort on the outskirts of Castlebar.

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A man has since been charged with murder and has been remanded in custody to appear at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.

In his homily yesterday, Fr Cunnane said the events of the previous few days had taught us how fragile and vulnerable we all were. “What we need to do is not judge or condemn, but support one another.”

Fr Cunnane referred to the great outpouring of community support for the woman’s husband, Séamus and their children, Ciara, Brendan, Siobhán, Séamus, Treasa, Cormac and Síle as well as her brothers, Michael, Éamon and Séamus and her sister, Bridie.

He made special mention of her son Séamus, who was charged earlier this week with his mother’s murder, asking “God to shelter him in his merciful love”.

Fr Cunnane said Ms Marrinan and her husband were devoted to each other and their family and they took special joy recently in the arrival of their first grandchild, Caoimhe.

Mrs Marrinan was brought to the New Cemetery in Castlebar for burial, with the hearse stopping briefly along the way outside the family home in Blackfort where she died.