The funeral details have been confirmed for the two young children who died in a car fire in Co Westmeath last week, as gardai launch a full investigation into their deaths.
Brother and sister Michael, aged 2, and Thelma, aged 5, died in the horror blaze while their mother, Lynn Egar, suffered serious injuries. She was rescued from the car fire by a passing lorry driver.
Mikey was pronounced dead at the scene and Thelma lost her life shortly after being rushed to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.
Read more: Death of siblings in Co Westmeath car fire being investigated as murder
The siblings will repose at Glennon’s Funeral Home on Ballinalee Road in Longford on Wednesday from 4.00 pm concluding with prayers at 8.00 pm. A mass of the Angels will then take place in St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, on Thursday at 11.00 am with interment afterward in Cullyfad Cemetery.
The death notice published on RIP.ie read: “Mikey and Thelma will be sadly missed and remembered with love by their heartbroken family, father Michael, mother Lynn, sister Katelyn, brother Eddie, grandmother Mary, grandfather Herbert, aunts, uncles, relatives, and friends.
“Safe in the arms of the Angels.”
The Irish Mirror confirmed on Tuesday that the deaths of the children have now been formally classified as murder. It was also established that gardai are satisfied that the family car was deliberately set on fire and that an accelerant - such as petrol - was likely used.
The update on the children's deaths came as Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said there was now a criminal investigation underway. Speaking to RTE, Commissioner Harris said: “This is now a crime investigation, we’re investigating this as suspicious circumstances around these deaths and we’re regarding it now as a crime investigation.
“In particular, we would ask the public for their support in helping us with this investigation. Anyone who was moving in the Lacken/Multyfarnham area last Friday between about 2pm and 3.30pm, 3.40pm, if they took dashcam footage, if they saw anything suspicious, please report to the gardai.”
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