THE final five victims of the Carrickmines fire which claimed 10 lives two weeks ago have been laid to rest.
The Connors family - Thomas and Sylvia Connors, both aged 27, and their children Jimmy, 5, Christy, 2, and Mary, 5 months - were mourned in a joint funeral this afternoon.
Friends and relatives of the young family gathered this morning for prayers in the Church of the Assumption on Bride Street in Wexford town ahead of their burial.
The Connors died on October 10 alongside five members of a second family, who were laid to rest earlier this week.
The fire, at a halting site in Carrickmines, broke out in the early hours of the Saturday morning.
Though the blaze claimed 10 lives, Mr and Mrs Connors’ two other children survived – sons Michael and Thomas.
Balloons were released in memory of the Connors family. Photo: Sam Boal /RollingNews.ieFather Derek Farrell, parish priest of the Parish of the Travelling People, presided over this morning’s prayers.
In the service, he described five-year-old Jimmy as "a very happy boy" who was adored by his younger brother Christy.
Mr and Mrs Connor were called a “match made in heaven” – a devoted couple who doted on their children.
Fr Farrell spoke praised the goodwill shown since the tragedy at last night’s funeral mass.
“This is a watershed moment which demands a new departure,” he said.
“We need together to make the deaths and the loss involved in this tragedy matter, not just to this family, but to all in our society, Traveller and settled.”
The Connors family were mourned in a funeral mass yesterday evening in Balally, Dublin, before being removed to their native Wexford for today’s proceedings.
They were laid to rest in Crosstown Cemetery in Wexford after this afternoon’s prayers.
