PRAYERS were said yesterday at the funeral of Anne O'Neill for the 27-year-old son who has been charged with her murder.
Mourners gathered at St Anne's Church, Finaghy at Kingsway for Requiem Mass for the 51-year-old who died on Saturday Ocrober 22 following an alleged attack at her parents' Armore Avenue home.
Her son Declan, of Malone Avenue in south Belfast was remanded in custody after appearing in court last Wednesday.
The 27-year-old doctor, who had been working as a locum at Belfast Trust hospitals, did not seek bail.
Fr Feargal McGrady recalled the words of a Psalm describing a person "near to despair, almost defeated, words, which he said "sum up all the anguish we feel at the tragedy of Anne's death".
He said they also "speak today to Anne's family circle, to Claire and George, her parents, to Claire-Anne and Declan her children, to Kevin their father, to her brothers Gerard and Paul and their families".
Fr McGrady paid tribute to her daughter Claire-Anne, who he described as being "at the cliff-face" of the tragic events.
"As this is a double tragedy; we pray in a special way for Declan, this morning," he said.
"I don’t need to tell any of you the esteem in which I, and so many others, hold Claire and George Burleigh, Anne's parents - a couple, now well on in years, still trying to come to terms with the sudden pain and loss of their beloved grand-daughter Louise, just two years ago.
"They were here a few Monday nights ago for Louise's anniversary Mass, a couple of profound Christian faith, of deep values, of constant thought for others."
"...We all love Claire and George, and our hearts are breaking for them and all the family. It just seems too much.
"Too much also for Anne’s daughter Claire-Anne who is at the cliff - face of this double tragedy. I wish we could change it, Claire-Anne but we all need to help you live for the future."
The parish priest prayed for God to "bring Anne home" and "hold Declan in His arms".
He told mourners everyone is "to some extent held captive in this world, imprisoned" and has "made bad choices or made mistakes, or sometimes we are victims of circumstance, life seems to have thrown us a raw deal".
"Each of us struggles with the things that hold us captive."
Fr McGrady urged them to have the "courage to let go of all the hindsight and the `if onlys'.
"Life is a mystery, it remains a mystery. It's not so important to know all the `whys', but it is important that we learn to accept it and all the unanswered questions.
"We cannot change the past, but we can live for the future."
A service was held afterwards at Roselawn Crematorium on the outskirts of Belfast.
