Parish unites in grief at funeral of victim

Her body had been waked at home in Leitir oir, Mor and now she was to have her final journey. As south-west winds whipped across na noileain, the "islands" of south Connemara yesterday, the body of Siobhan Hynes, the 17-year-old schoolgirl found dead near Carraroe last weekend, was laid to rest.

Hundreds of schoolfriends and local people packed the Leitir oir Mor parish church, with many more mourners standing outside to hear the service on the public address system. They heard Father Michael Brennan, parish priest, speak of Siobhan's great spirit, and her wonderful loving character.

Her tragic death was a profound and painful loss to her family, friends and the community, and one which would be felt for many years to come, he continued.

He told the congregation their presence was of huge importance to Siobhan's parents, Aindi and Brid Hynes, and her sisters, Fiona (19) and Aine, and asked mourners to open their hearts to her spirit in their time of grief.

Father Brennan concelebrated with five priests from Connemara, and the secondary school choir from Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiarain in Carraroe sang to the accompaniment of harp and guitar.

During the sermon, five of Siobhan's friends presented some of her personal possessions and described their memories of a girl that everyone had so much time for, with one of the pupils reading a poem "from one friend to another".

Her teddy clown was a symbol of her great love for her family, her school diary was a symbol of her many friendships, and one of her favourite CDs showed her great love of music.

A picture which Siobhan had painted in school reflected her love of art. Several of the pupils were overcome as they explained the significance of their offerings.

Siobhan's uncle, Mr Ciaran O Fatharta, thanked the congregation for the support they had offered the family. He also thanked gardai for their efforts, and appealed for help in trying to find the person who was responsible for so much heartbreak. He asked for a sign of appreciation for Siobhan's "17 lovely years", at which point, the congregation applauded.

It was followed by the strains of My Heart Will Go On, the theme music from the film, Titanic which Siobhan had liked so much.

Afterwards a guard of honour formed by her schoolfriends flanked the coffin to the local cemetery for burial.

Also yesterday, gardai continued their efforts to track down the person responsible for Siobhan's murder, and expressed confidence that someone in Carraroe last Saturday night would have seen something of significance to the investigation.

Statements are being taken from people who were in the village, and who may be able to help piece together the teenager's movements from the time she was last seen on her way to a chip shop.

Siobhan's body was found at Tismeain, a foreshore two miles from Carraroe village, last Sunday afternoon. A search had been initiated when she failed to return home to Sconse, west of Leitir oir, Mor after a night out in Carraroe.

In an early breakthrough in the Garda investigation, headed by Supt Jim Sugrue, a silver locket and a piece of clothing were discovered near Tismeain on Tuesday. Both had been worn by the Leaving Certificate student when last seen alive. The results of further forensic tests are expected shortly, as the preliminary post-mortem was "inconclusive".