Mourners told mother and children killed in Fermanagh are 'together and finally safe'

The funeral of a woman and her children who were murdered in Fermanagh heard that "darkness will not conquer" despite the "ripping away of three people from their family and friends." 

Shockwaves were sent through Ireland on Wednesday, July 23 when news broke that three people had been killed following a shooting in Maguiresbridge. It was confirmed some time later that the victims were a mother and her two teenage children. 

45-year-old Vanessa Whyte, of Barefield, Co Clare, worked as a vet and has been continuously described as a "devoted" mother. Teenagers James (14) and Sara Rutledge (13) were well-known in the community for their love of sports, with locals saying they were "good natured" children. 

It was said by those close to them that Vanessa, James and Sara were "a trio that was always by each others side."

A service of removal took place in St Mary’s Church in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning, July 30. The mother and children reposed together on Friday, August 1.  

At their funeral today in The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Barefield, mourners heard snippets of the fulfilled and happy lives the three led together.

Symbols representing Vanessa, James and Sara were brought to the alter. These included a blue card and cattle tags which showed how devoted Vanessa was to her "unique and irreplaceable" life as a vet, a hurley was placed at James' side as a symbol of "the countless hours he shared with friends and teammates" while Sara's was a toy cat, representing her love of animals as well as her "gentle presence." 

Delivering the eulogy was Vanessa's sister, Regina Whyte, who began by thanking those who travelled from near and far in support of the family. 

She gave insight into life with her late sister, saying that as a child Vanessa "grew to love the land and more specifically, the animals that roamed it" determining that she was "destined" to become a vet. 

"Vanessa was a witty, bright, kind and determined young lady. She would sit for hours nursing sick lambs, kittens and calves. She slowly increased her herd of animals over the years, to include her pride and joy, her Simmentals. 

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"At 15 years of age, Vanessa left her job in the local shop in Ballyline at 11am one morning and walked home to never return, as she had witnessed a bird being mistreated and she was not prepared to work for someone like this," said Regina.

Ms Whyte stated that Vanessa loved returning to her native county of Clare, where she would "often hold centre stage from the armchair and hash out the GAA matches, animal prices and what exactly was going on in the community and everyone's lives." 

Passing her traits down to children James and Sara, they never visited any of their families homes without dog treats, even though they were cat lovers.

"She was a perfectionist, which many people dreaded her spreadsheets and her coloured highlighters, but it was Sara and James who were the focus of her world."

Speaking on her nephew, 14-year-old James Rutledge, Regina Whyte said in recent days the "kind, bright, determined" young boy has been remembered for his "vibrance and divilment," particularly in GAA training. 

"James' smile was infectious and his loyalty was strong," said his aunt. 

"James lived for the GAA and idolized the Clare Hurling team. Our family find comfort in the fact that James got to experience the feelings of his county winning the All-Ireland last year and the affectionate way the local community called him Tony Kelly. "

Much like his mother, the teenager was "obsessed" with land, animals and farming machinery. He was known by those who love him as a "country child, always on the go and never happier then when the car was on the road to the next adventure." 

13-year-old Sara Rutledge was described as a "sassy child" who became a "beautiful, kind teenager."

"From a young age, Sara shared Vanessa's and James' love of animals, the land and the GAA and her dream was to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a veterinary surgeon. When Sara is mentioned, the immediate association is with her beloved cats, Rosie, in particular, and their well being became our responsibility in recent times. Sara will be delighted to know that their new home and family will love and take care of them as did she," Regina explained.

Also a lover of GAA, the young girl was "quite and reserved" but had a smile that would "light up a room." It was spoken that much like her brother, divilment was "indeed a core component" of the much-loved girl's personality. 

"She was a normal, happy 13-year-old teenager whose friends attested to her kindness, warmth and passion for life. Sara never left home without bunny, a small toy dog, and over the years, there were various searches for bunny in many houses all over the country.  He was often found in the bottom of her school bag or in the pocket of the car door. When you saw Sara, bunny was in close proximity and he will remain with her on her final journey."

The beloved teenager's aunt said she was a "team player" and a "quiet leader."

"Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner. There are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends. We as a family have been robbed of both the relationship of our sister and a chance to see James and Sara grow up, and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. It has taken us 11 days to be in a position to have Vanessa, James and Sara back to Clare. This was supposed to be a joyous occasion where Vanessa would see her new nephew, and Sarah and James would meet their baby cousin, Harry Joe, for the first time. Instead, we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. For us as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever as they were when they were alive," Regina Whyte concluded. 

Bishop Ger Nash was the chief celebrant at the Funeral Mass and delivered a homily paying tribute to the family. 

The Bishop of Ferns began by acknowledging the pain being felt following the "tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world."

He said, "Such a tragic event causes us to ask how God could have a plan that is achieved through the sadness we see around us.  We ask the question: “Why?”, and we know there is no easy answer.

"Here in Barefield church today with Vanessa, James, and Sara, we are in the land of “I don’t know.”  The tragic events of last week, and the ripping away of three people from their family and friends leave us searching for answers and coming back again and again to the only answer that is completely true: “We don’t know.""

Bishop Nash reminded mourners in dark times such as these it is important to find the light, noting that "the darkness will not conquer."

He spoke of the "immense gifts" that Vanessa brought to her adopted home of Maguiresbridge, Fermanagh and how her "sense of drive for community" has made her passing all the more poignant. 

"She gave that love of her native county and Gaelic games to James and Sara and they were themselves at the centre of a community of friends in sport, school and all the things that mark the lives of young people.  

"The Whyte family, you know how you are held in your sorrow by the community here in Barefield and in Clare, but also in Maguiresbridge and Fermanagh. At great cost, you have discovered that many people want to walk with you on your journey of pain," said the Bishop. 

While preparing to deliver this homily, Bishop Nash said he took a brief look at the condolences left on RIP.ie and what touched him was the hundreds of supportive messages left by virtual strangers. 

"They don’t know you, nor you them but they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms then they have learned that life is precious and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love.

"Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children, but also conscious that there were heartbroken mothers left behind.  The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain," he spoke. 

The Bishop of Ferns paid tribute to the fact that Vanessa, James and Sara were all baptised in the very church that their families are now saying goodbye to them in. 

Vanessa was noted for her "energy and commitment" in life where she always encouraged her children's independence "but always hovered in the background in case the independence wasn’t working out."

An example given of this was their Maguiresbridge home which still has a broken end window from gable-end hurling that was not fixed as a reminder to James that "actions have consequences and that sliotars break glass." 

Bishop Nash told mourners that in order to heal and resume daily life the "personal pain and grief that has fallen on each of us" must be acknowledged as well as the support given by communities all over Ireland. 

"We need to encourage each other to talk often about our absent friends and to seek help and support when the sorrow becomes too heavy.  This particularly goes for you who are young friends of James and Sara. Your best tribute to their lives is to take care of your own and your friends’ lives and to truly become the great people God created you to be. And for all of us, to remember that the gifts we have recognized in Vanessa, James and Sara are gifts that are often unused in our own lives. As the first Christians didn’t let Jesus’ work and ministry die with Him, we can keep the memory of Vanessa, James, and Sara alive by sharing our gifts and talents.  Let us honour their memory, not just in mourning, but in how we live.

"In our shared grief, we find strength in each other, and in our shared commitment, we ensure their legacy endures.  Let us walk this journey together, trusting in God’s light to guide us and let their memory inspire us to live with the same courage, love and joy they brought to us all," Bishop Ger Nash concluded. 

Ivor Whyte, Vanessa's brother, gave thanks to the emergency services, visiting clergy, Bishop Ger Nash and all those who worked in the cemetery. 

He gave special thanks to the undertakers who brought Vanessa, James and Sara back to Barefield "in the safe and loving manner that they deserved." 

The family gave appreciation to the musicians involved, those who participated in guards of honour and stewarding as well as Vanessa, James and Sara's friends from various communities. 

Ivor Whyte said, "We hope and pray that no other family has to experience the unimaginable grief and loss we have endured since the 23rd of July. Vanessa was a private person and our focus is to ensure privacy, respect and dignity for her and her children. Given the circumstances of their deaths, we will continue to do that on behalf of Vanessa, Sara and James. However, we have experienced an outpouring of love and support in the past number of weeks from all corners of the country.  This has been a source of great comfort for us.

"We hope that anyone who may live in fear today recognizes that if they reach out, this love and support that is part of our communities will be there for them too. May they rest in peace," he concluded. 

In attendance was staff from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where James and Sara attended, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris. 

The family's death notice reads: "Cherished and much-loved Vanessa, James and Sara will forever be in the hearts of their heartbroken family, remembered fondly by a devoted mother and loving grandmother Mary Whyte, sisters and brothers (aunts and uncles) Geraldine, Anita, Steve, Regina and Ivor and by their respective partner’s Michael, Bernie, Ciara and Anita’s husband James. Sadly missed by all their heartbroken cousins Deirbhíle, Erin, James, Danielle, Aishling, Jack and Harry Joe. They will be greatly missed by the extended Whyte Family, friends, work colleagues and the wider GAA Communities in both Fermanagh and Clare."

People attending the funeral wore bright colours in honour of the trio's memory. 

Following their deaths, a fourth person, a man, was hospitalised for injuries. It was later revealed that 43-year-old Ian Rutledge died and was the only suspect in the murders. 

Vanessa, James and Sara have been laid to rest together in Templemaley Cemetery.