A large crowd gathered in Callan, Co Kilkenny last night as prayers were said for Robyn Leahy, the two-year old stabbed to death by her father on Sunday.
The child's 26-year-old mother, Lorraine, was discharged from St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny to be present for the short prayer service at Molloy's Funeral Home. Ms Leahy suffered a head injury in Sunday's incident in which Robyn and her father, George McGloin, died.
The removal of Robyn's remains takes place today before her funeral Mass at the Church of the Assumption in Callan at 9 a.m.
Garda∅ believe Mr McGloin, a Canadian national who lived in Limerick, stabbed Robyn before turning the knife on himself after a domestic dispute.
The parish priest of Callan, Father William Dalton, led last night's prayer service with Father Mark Condon, the local curate, and Father Bernard Allon, of the L'Arche Community.
Other family members present included Ms Leahy's parents, Mort and Joan, her grandmother, Mrs Josie Leahy, her sisters, Christine and Frances, and her brother, David.
The double killing has caused deep shock in the small town. Many people stood silently outside the funeral home while others wept.
