Valerie a ‘caring and loving person’
The family of murder victim Valerie French Kilroy, who will be buried today, have said they are heartbroken.
The Cork native’s body was discovered last Friday in her Kilbree Lower home in Westport where she lived with her husband and three children. Her husband has since appeared before a special sitting of the Castlebar District Court charged with her murder.
Valerie will be laid to rest today, Thursday, with a service in St Fachtna’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Rosscarbery and burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Her death notices describe her as being “forever loved and missed by her heartbroken families”. Valerie’s mother, brother and sisters said: “We have been in great shock since we received the news of our dear Valerie’s death at her home in county Mayo. Our family has been gathering from different parts of Ireland and from around the world. We are heartbroken and it is all too much, at this early stage, for us to take in.
“Valerie was a much loved daughter, sister, niece, cousin, friend and colleague to many. She was a loving wife to James, and adored her three children. Valerie was an immensely caring and loving person - this was her calling at work and at home throughout her life.”
The family statement continued: “We are hugely grateful for the outpouring of sorrow following Valerie’s death, and also for the goodwill and practical support so many people are showing to us. We hope and pray that the privacy and tragedy of our grief will be respected. Again we thank everyone for their kindness to us.”
Meanwhile the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross has appealed for people to give her family “space and time”.
He said: “Valerie grew up and went to school in this diocese. Her family are very well known to us all, including to me personally. This is a time of immense trauma for everyone. My own thoughts and prayers at this time are with everyone who is caught up in or who has been affected by this terrible tragedy.”
A post mortem examination was completed on Saturday afternoon at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar by the Acting State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan. However the results are not being released at this stage, gardaí have said, for operational reasons.