A FATHER and his two children who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in their home near Gurteen, Co Sligo, a week before Christmas have been buried following their funeral in Britain.
Mourners gathered in Swinton, Manchester, to pay their respects to Trevor Wallwork (50), his daughter Kimberley (12) and son Harry (9), whose bodies had been returned to England last week.
The family had moved from Salford to Sligo six years ago.
Investigators believe the three died on December 18th from carbon monoxide poisoning as Mr Wallwork sat in an armchair and his children lay on the floor watching television in their living-room at Moygara.
The funeral service was held at St Mark’s Catholic Church on Station Road in Swinton.
Friends and family lined the entrance to the church and wiped away tears as three black hearses decked with floral tributes pulled up outside. A coffin holding the body of Mr Wallwork was carried inside first. It was followed by two smaller white coffins.
The service was conducted by Fr Barry Lomax and included the hymns The Rugged Old Cross, The Lord is My Shepherd, Soul of My Saviour and Walk With Me, Oh My Lord. A moving reading of the Mary Stevenson poem Footprints in the Sand followed.
The funeral was followed by a joint burial at Agecroft cemetery.
Gardaí believe a blockage caused by a large crisps bag in a chimney over a coal fire may have caused their deaths. The bag is thought to have been dumped on the fire and sucked up the chimney flue, blocking it.
The tragedy happened as Mr Wallwork’s wife, Susan, was in hospital receiving treatment for an illness. Her daughter Vicky Barnes (22) discovered the bodies when she was unable to get an answer to phone calls. Gardaí broke into the house and found the television still on and the coal fire burning.
An inquest is expected to be held in Sligo.