Over 1,000 at boys' funeral in Kilkenny

More than 1,000 people gathered in St Patrick's Church, Kilkenny, yesterday for the funeral of Alan (10) and Shane Byrne (6), whose bodies were discovered on the Wexford coast last Friday.

The brothers were buried one week after their mother, Maeve's, body was found at their home in Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny. She had been stabbed to death.

Gardai are still searching for the body of her husband, Stephen. They are concentrating their search around the Hook Head/Duncannon area, where Alan and Shane's bodies were found.

The mourners were led by Mrs Maeve Byrne's mother Mrs Mai Skelly and Mr Stephen Byrne's father Mr Mick Byrne. The church had filled half an hour before the Mass began.

Cuffesgrange curate Father Martin Delaney said the two white coffins brought the tragic happenings of the past week into clear focus. He said St Patrick's Church had seen some sad occasions in its 100-year history but this was the most profoundly sad series of funerals which the church had witnessed.

He spoke of the close bonds between the extended families and prayed for Mr Stephen Byrne and for the people who were still searching for him. "We pray that they will have a conclusion to their work soon," he said.

He added that the President, Mrs McAleese, had sent her condolences to both families.

Alan and Shane's young cousins Michael and Dean did the readings while other relatives and young friends read Prayers of the Faithful and carried the gifts, which included Shane's Playstation and Alan's treasured piece of paper with all the signatures of the All-Ireland hurling team.

Their aunt, Mrs Liz Byrne, moved many of the congregation to tears when she and the boys from St Patrick's De la Salle Primary School sang Alan and Shane's favourite song, I believe I can fly.

Father Delaney said nothing had changed since he spoke at Mrs Maeve Byrne's funeral as he still had no easy answers to the questions raised by recent events. "Why Alan and Shane? Why this way?" he asked.

"The death of two young innocent boys has robbed us of all our tomorrows," the priest said. He said all he could do was to point to the suffering of Jesus.

"Alan and Shane are now in heaven. We have no doubt about that. Today the kingdom of God belongs to Alan and Shane Byrne."

Addressing the many children in the church, Father Delaney asked them to remember the happy times they spent with Alan and Shane. He urged their parents to take a moment later to give their children a special hug and talk to them about what had happened.

He pointed out that counselling for parents and children is being provided at the De la Salle Primary School until Friday evening.

Alan and Shane Byrne were buried alongside their mother's grave in Foulkstown cemetery, beside the church where their parents married 12 years ago.