Friends and family gather in Co Fermanagh to remember mum 'full of kindness' and 'vibrant' kids

Mum Vanessa Whyte was remembered as being 'full of kindness and warmth' and her children as nothing but 'vibrant' at a service of removal on Wednesday.

Vanessa, 45, a veterinarian, was killed along with her son James Rutledge, 14, and daughter Sara Rutledge, 13, in a gun attack at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh.

Mourners and locals in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, gathered to pay their respects with Father Raymond Donnelly telling the congregation: 'The loss of Vanessa and her two beautiful children, James and Sara- lives taken in such an unspeakable way- is more than any heart should bear.'

The coffins of Vanessa Whyte and her children, Sara and James Rutledge, are carried from St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, following a service of removal. Pic: PA Images

According to MailOnline, Vanessa was described as a 'woman full of kindness and warmth, a friend to so many here. And her children, so young, so vibrant, so full of promise.'

Her children were also remembered warmly, with Father Donnelly saying: 'Their laughter rang through school corridors, through playing fields, especially on the GAA pitch, where they thrived with passion and joy.'

The order of Service is held ahead of the Service of Removal for Vanessa Whyte, her son James Rutledge, and daughter Sara Rutledge at St. Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge. Pic: PA Images

He added that they had a 'zest for life, their infectious energy, their open smiles.'

Unable to answer why this happened, he advised people to turn to the word of God for guidance and acknowledged that the community, and the country, had been shaken to its core.

During the week, school principal Honor Irvine described James and Sara as popular pupils who loved sport.

‘I taught them both for two years,’ she told PA news agency. ‘James was full of fun, always laughing, loved to get a laugh, and loved to be outdoors.

The coffins of Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge, are carried from St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh. Pic: PA Images

'Sara was the same. Sara loved the outdoors, bit of a tomboy, and the two of them got on very well, [had] lots of friends and were very popular in school.

Trying to give some comfort to those grieving, Father Donnelly said: 'We hold you in prayer and embrace. We do not have answers, but we offer presence. We offer prayer. We offer love.'

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Aine Murphy MLA arriving for the Service of Removal for Vanessa Whyte, her son James Rutledge, and daughter Sara Rutledge. Pic: PA Images

The funeral of Vanessa, Sara, and James will take place Saturday, August 2, in Barefield, Co Clare, and the three of them will be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery.

Vanessa's husband and the children's father, agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, was found with serious gunshot wounds at the scene of the incident and later died in the hospital. Police believe the act was an attempted murder-suicide.