Northern Ireland

Joleen Corr remembered during `beautiful' graveside service

The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman's brain and some tissue material, were buried with the 27-year-old. Picture: Mal McCann
The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman's brain and some tissue material, were buried with the 27-year-old. Picture: Mal McCann
By Marie Louise McConville

THE family of a west Belfast murder victim gathered at her grave side yesterday for a poignant final burial service.

Mother-of-one Joleen Corr died in April 2018 - 16 months after she suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was left in a coma when then partner, Michael O'Connor attacked her in her Downpatrick home.

The 27-year-old had spent time time in both the Royal Victoria Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital following the attack however doctors told her family there was no possibility of recovery.

She later died in the Northern Ireland Hospice.

Earlier this month, Michael O'Connor (34) was handed a 16-year jail sentence at Downpatrick Crown Court for killing Joleen.

The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman's brain and some tissue material, were buried with the 27-year-oldThe family of Joleen Corr gather at her grave for a special final service. Picture Mal McCann.
The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman The family of Joleen Corr gathered at her grave in City Cemetery in west Belfast yesterday for a special service. During the gathering, items which had been held back by the authorities as evidence in the murder investigation, including the young woman's brain and some tissue material, were buried with the 27-year-oldThe family of Joleen Corr gather at her grave for a special final service. Picture Mal McCann.

As part of the investigation into Ms Corr's murder, the authorities had retained her brain and some tissue material as evidence.

Yesterday, her mother, Carol and other family members gathered at her grave in the City Cemetery in west Belfast to bury the items with Joleen.

The family gathered together at the graveside clutching rainbow balloons in memory of the young woman.

Carol Corr described the service as "beautiful".

Mother-of-one Joleen Corr died in the Northern Ireland Hospice in April 2018, 16 months after she suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was left in a coma after her then partner, Michael O'Connor attacked her in her Downpatrick home in December 2016
Mother-of-one Joleen Corr died in the Northern Ireland Hospice in April 2018, 16 months after she suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was left in a coma after her then partner, Michael O'Connor attacked her in her Downpatrick home in December 201 Mother-of-one Joleen Corr died in the Northern Ireland Hospice in April 2018, 16 months after she suffered catastrophic brain injuries and was left in a coma after her then partner, Michael O'Connor attacked her in her Downpatrick home in December 2016

"The priest said a few prayers. I held the wee box and just handed over her wee remains. It was awful sad but it went well.

"We let off balloons and we just cheered her name into the sky. We all gathered together and hugged each other and we all remembered Joleen".