A mother-of-five who died from a gunshot wound was remembered at her funeral mass as a devoted parent who never asked for much and who gave everything to her children.
Sandra Boyd (36) died following a suspected accidental shooting at her home in Collins Place, Finglas, Dublin, earlier this month. Her brother Derek has since been charged with firearms offences.
Hundreds turned out to pay their respects at Ms Boyd’s funeral mass at St Canice’s Church in Finglas on Monday morning.
"For all who know and loved Sandra, knew her as an amazing mother who loved and lived for her children," said Fr Richard Hyland. "Sandra's idea of a good night was a movie and loads of goodies for the children. And Sandra delighted in the simplest, simplest things of life; no fuss, no bother."
Fr Hyland later noted the need to “pray in a special way this morning for DJ”.
Last week, Ms Boyd’s brother Derek (27), also of Collins Place, Finglas, appeared in court where he was charged with firearms offences and remanded in custody.
“In the loss of Sandra we have seen an incredible outpouring of compassion,” Fr Hyland said. “To look at the condolences on RIP we see people from many, many different parts of the country, most of them mothers expressing sadness at the heartbreak of loss.”
Outside the church, Ms Boyd’s remains arrived by horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a procession of family and mourners dressed in a combination of pink and black. Her coffin, adorned with white flowers, was led into the grounds of St Canice’s by a saxophone player accompanying Cold Play’s Fix You.
Among the attendees were school children in uniform. Ms Boyd, the second eldest of nine siblings, leaves behind five children, sons Ben, Jordan, Luke, Carter and daughter Darcy.
“Sandra loved the simple things in life,” a female relative, speaking on behalf of the family, told the congregation. “She never asked for much and all that she had she gave to her children. Sandra will live on in so many hearts, especially her children.”
As her remains were led out of the church, relatives wept openly around her coffin and comforted one another. She was brought to be buried at nearby Glasnevin Cemetery.
Emergency services had responded to treat Ms Boyd after she was shot and she was taken to Dublin's Mater Hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
At his court appearance last week, Derek Boyd’s barrister told the court the firearms charges “relate to a terrible accident” and a “heartbreaking tragedy”. In a brief emotional exchange with relatives who sought to comfort him, he had said he was sorry before being led away.
