Tragic siblings were carried into church in white coffins yesterday as a priest said: “We have been robbed of three young lives.”
Grieving mother Margaret “Twink” McDonagh was held by loved-ones as the bodies of Lisa Cash, 18, and eight-year-old twins Chelsea and Christy Cawley were removed to St Aidan’s in Tallaght. Just up the road, the siblings lost their lives in horrific circumstances at their home at Rossfield Avenue in the early hours of Sunday.
Friends, relatives and the community flanked the pavements as a man playing bagpipes led the cortege which had made the journey from a funeral home for the removal service. Following the three horse-drawn carriages was a limo, with devastated Margaret along with the tragic siblings’ older sister, also named Margaret, and brother Mikey.
Read more: Tragic Tallaght siblings to be buried together as family asks for prayers for devastated mother
In the church grounds, there was silence as Lisa’s coffin was carried to the church door first followed by Chelsea and Christy’s in unison. There, priest Fr Paul O’Driscoll blessed them before they were brought inside the small building for a short service. Fr O’Driscoll told how the three were the “cherished” children of their mum Margaret.
And addressing the mourners he said: “Lisa, Chelsea and Christy will be forever loved and very sadly missed by their heartbroken family. We have been robbed of three young lives. Their genetic family, their family of faith, not only are they robbed of their lives but they have been robbed of all of their innocence, our sense of what is normal.
“People are stopping each other in the streets and the shops in disbelief, how could this happen? The family would like to say a very special thanks to everyone for their love and kindness over the past few days. Thank you so much. Being together makes us stronger and helps us take the next step and the next step.”
Fr O’Driscoll asked people to pray for the children’s mum and family ahead of the funeral Mass which takes place this morning at 10am. Some gathered afterwards in the nearby community centre where people were invited for refreshments and to talk about what is going through their minds.
Earlier yesterday, the bodies lay in repose for three hours as hundreds filtered through the Brian McElroy Funeral Home in Tallaght to pay their respects. There were 16 floral tributes, displaying pictures, outside while four stood inside.
In a montage of Lisa and her late father Andy Cash, it read: “Back with my daddy.” In another with the twins Christy and Chelsea, whose father Billy Cawley is also deceased, read: “Back with our daddy.”
Read more: Book of condolence opened at The Square for tragic siblings killed in Tallaght
Traumatised mum Margaret was comforted by her close friends there inside the building. Her 14-year-old son who was injured in last Sunday’s incident was seen being hugged outside. Today the funeral mass will be celebrated by Fr O’Driscoll and local parish priest Fr Bill O’Shaughnessy.
The bodies will then be brought to Bohernabreena Cemetery, where the trio will be laid to rest together. The funeral takes place after the tragic siblings’ older sibling Andy Cash was charged over their deaths. The 24-year-old was remanded in custody until next Friday.
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