They had begun congregating outside the funeral home at 1pm, older women, young men, teenage girls, children - all anxious to show their support for the O’Driscoll family in their darkest hour.
The bodies of nine-year-old twins Paddy and Thomas O’Driscoll and their older brother Jonathan lay in repose at O’Malley’s Funeral Home in Charleville for over three hours today.
Hundreds of mourners came to pay their respects to the boys’ grieving parents, Tom and Helen, their sister Bernadette, and younger brothers Jimmy and Martin.
All afternoon they arrived and trooped in their droves into the funeral home to commiserate with the O’Driscolls on the loss of their children in a horror they could never have imagined.
The car registrations hinted at the extended nature of the family and just how far afield the tragedy had struck - cars came from Roscommon and Meath as well as Tipperary and Limerick.
It was close to 4.30pm when undertaker Austin O’Malley finally closed the funeral home doors to allow the family a private moment of grief and mourning with their three beloved sons.
Two small white coffins with the remains of Paddy and Thomas were placed side by side in the first hearse to begin their journey to the Holy Cross Church at the Limerick end of town.
The coffin containing Jonathan’s remains emerged immediately afterwards and was placed in the second hearse which flanked the first vehicle carrying the bodies of his two younger brothers.
The first hearse pulled out, relatives following immediately afterwards, reaching out and clinging to the sleek black vehicle as it inched its way through the crowds to head through the town.
The scene was repeated moments late as the second hearse carrying Jonathan’s body followed the first hearse.
Aa Toyota flatback followed the hearses loaded with floral tributes, some in the shape of horses.
The cortege made its way through Charleville and then out the Limerick Road to Deerpark where the three boys made their last visit to the neat terracotta coloured bungalow they called home.
After a few private moments at their home, the O’Driscolls brought their boys back into town to the Holy Cross Church where they were received by Fr Tom Naughton and Fr Seán Cotter.
The remains will lie in repose side by side in the 19th century church overnight where Fr Naughton assisted by Fr Cotter will celebrate requiem mass for the three boys at 12 noon tomorrow.
Paddy and Thomas will be buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery immediately after the requiem mass while Jonathan will later make the journey to Kilmallock to be buried beside his maternal grandparents.
