'I'm hurting, we all are', says son of O'Connor family

The funeral Mass took place at St Patrick's Church in Dundalk

A man whose parents and brother were killed told mourners at their funeral Mass that he was "hurting, we all are".

Louise O'Connor, who was 56, her 54-year-old husband Mark O'Connor, and their 27-year-old son Evan O'Connor, who had additional needs, were found dead at their rural home in Drumgowna, County Louth, on 29 September.

Cian O'Connor paid tribute to his mother, father and younger brother Evan, saying: "I know for many of you here what has happened is difficult to understand and put into words.

"However, while it's difficult to comprehend, it's not something that we should ignore or forget or allow to overshadow the wonderful lives of my family."

Cian O'Connor thanked the local community for their support during the Mass

Cian said what happened to his family was "something that may take an age to come to terms with, and a part of each of us may never heal".

He added that his family would want people to "celebrate the rich lives they led, to remember the good times and to remember the memories they left behind".

Cian went on to thank the local community.

"The outpouring of support from you all has been immense. We've felt it to our very core. So thank you," he said.

Evan O'Connor was found dead alongside his parents Mark and Louise O'Connor

The joint funeral Mass was held at St Patrick's Church in Dundalk and was led by Fr Gerry Campbell.

The priest said many people had already spoken about the family with "so many wonderful words of admiration, affection and sorrow".

Fr Campbell said that Mark, Louise and Evan were "united in love", and Evan was his parents' "joy, their pride and their world".

'Alive with love'

Fr Campbell spoke about Mark's hard-working nature, as he advocated for people with special needs and worked with community.

"Mark knew what it meant to labour - not just in his work, but in his calling to justice and compassion," he said. "Mark gave himself completely for the good of others."

He mentioned Mark's love of running and how he would encourage others "to keep going".

Speaking about Louise, Fr Campbell said she was "full of life... talkative, warm, musical and compassionate".

He told mourners Louise's heart was "alive with love" and she "cared for others with gentleness and humour, bringing comfort and joy to the people she met".

Louise "loved Mark and Evan with every part of her being" and the priest described Mark and Louise as "soulmates".

Fr Campbell went on to talk about Evan and "his love of holidays, of swimming, of his colourful odd socks and bright T-shirts".

"His love of Thomas the Tank Engine... his joy in going to the Hub Praxis in Drogheda, his love of theme parks, aqua aerobics, going with his Dad to the Park Runs," he continued.

He said Evan's love was "unfiltered and wholehearted".

A private cremation service is to take place following the funeral Mass.

On 30 September, Robert O'Connor, 31, of Drumgowna, appeared before a special sitting of Drogheda District Court charged with three counts of murder.