Jersey stabbing: Funerals to be held for the six killed

The first of the funerals for the six people killed at Victoria Crescent will take place on Saturday

The first funeral of the Jersey stabbing victims is due to take place on Saturday.

The Mass for 34-year-old Marta de la Haye and her five-year-old daughter Julia will take place at St Thomas' Roman Catholic Church.

The Mass will start at 10:00 BST and be open to everyone.

Jersey's Catholic Dean, Monsignor Nicholas France, and Father Jan Swiatek, the Jersey's Polish Catholic Mission Priest, will take the service.

Mrs Haye and her daughter will be in the same coffin to make it more practical to take them for burial in Poland.

A funeral Mass for the four other people who died at Victoria Crescent will be held on 29 September.

Marek Garstka, who was 56, his daughter 30-year-old Izabela Rzeszowska and her children, five-year-old Kinga and two-year-old Kacper died in the same incident.

They will be cremated at private services and the four caskets of ashes will be taken to a mass at St Thomas' church later that evening before being repatriated to Poland.

'Sympathy and support'

Monsignor France said Izabela's brother and other relatives were expected to come to Jersey for the cremation and Mass.

He said: "Amid the sadness of these last weeks, the good news is that so many people from all parts of the community have rallied round to show their sympathy and support in practical ways.

"From donations from the community at large, from grants from the States and from generous financial assistance from the Constable and Parish of St Helier, sufficient funds have been raised, in the region of £15,000, to cover all expenses both in Jersey and in Poland, which will relieve the bereaved relatives of any expense at all.

"The Church, Condor Ferries and others have waived their fees and the Funeral Directors, Pitcher and Le Quesne, are just covering their costs."

The relatives have asked that donations in lieu of flowers should be given to local charities Help a Jersey Child and the Centre Point Trust.