Funeral for McGinley children to take place in Dublin today

Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley will be laid to rest today after their bodies were discovered last Friday. 

The funeral mass of the three children who died in their home in Newcastle, Co Dublin, last week will take place this morning.

Nine-year-old Conor McGinley, his seven-year-old brother Darragh and their three-year-old sister Carla will be laid to rest following the mass at the Church of the Holy Family in Rathcoole.

Fr Kevin Doherty, who is the co-parish priest in Newcastle, is the chief celebrant. The mass will be co-celebrated by Fr John Gilligan. It is understood the children's father, Andrew McGinley, will deliver a eulogy.

The family has asked that any donations be made to Rathcoole Boys Football Club, to Scoil Chrónáin, where both boys were pupils, or to the Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, where Carla attended.

In a statement, issued through gardaí on Tuesday, Andrew McGinley said: "There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored.

"They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness.

"The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive."

The children's mother, 42-year-old Deirdre Morley, has been charged with their murders and will appear in court again next Wednesday.