Funerals take place of elderly couple found dead at their home
THE elderly couple who were found dead at their Kilkenny home last week lay in repose side-by-side yesterday evening as their families prepared for their separate funerals and burials today.
The bodies of Michael Hurley (83) and his partner Mary Holohan (79) were discovered by a relative at their home in Kilderry, Johnswell on Wednesday night.
Following post-mortem examinations at University Hospital Waterford on Friday, the couple’s remains were brought back to Kilkenny where they lay in repose at Hehir’s funeral home in Gardens from 6.30pm yesterday evening.
Michael’s Requiem Mass took place at St John’s Church at 10.30am this morning, followed by his burial afterwards at St Kieran’s Cemetery.
Mary’s funeral took place at St Patrick’s Church at 12.30pm, followed by her burial at Foulkstown Cemetery.
In Mary’s death notice, her family paid tribute to their “cherished mother” who they said will be “sadly missed” by her four sons and daughter, her three brothers, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours “and a wide circle of friends”.
Some media reports have speculated the couple may have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, the cause of their deaths has not yet been established. For the moment, gardai are treating the deaths as a tragic accident.
The results of the post-mortem examinations will determine the course of the Garda investigation.
