Ireland is a nation in mourning as details continue to emerge about the triple murder that took place in Tallaght in the early hours of Sunday morning.
18-year-old Lisa Cash lost her life along with her adorable twin siblings little Christy and Chelsea in a stabbing incident that can only be described as hellish in nature.
The photo of the twins in their Holy Communion outfits, with Chelsea’s beaming radiant smile, and Christy looking very princely indeed, will be shared thousands of times as we come to terms with what took place.
There must have been great excitement amongst them on that day. Their delighted little faces on what really is the biggest event for kids that age. The day in the church and with family and friends, the big plans for how to spend your Holy Communion money.
And their big sister, Lisa, looking so beautiful and glamorous in a photo from her birthday party. This was a family that liked to celebrate the milestones in life, to make a loving fuss of each other.
The principal of Lisa’s school described her as a lovely girl , diligent with her Leaving Cert studies.
On her facebook page, Lisa had posted about how being an aunty was also a great joy in her life.
It has been reported that she was babysitting her siblings when tragedy and evil overtook them all.
I can’t help but remember the beating rain all Saturday, almost like Éire knew what was about to happen to her beloved children and could not hold back her tears.
Their 14-year-old brother is said to have jumped from a window and ran to the nearby home of a relative to raise the alarm. He escaped with his life, but to lose three siblings in one night is a trauma beyond words. To lose them due to such unspeakable violence is a terror beyond our understanding.
Let us place our hearts at the feet of the children’s mother, who only recently celebrated Lisa turning 18. A woman who has lost her little twins who entered and left this world together.
There is often a certain amount of effort to ‘claim’ tragedies in this country. Certain elements like to place a narrative upon crimes that defy understanding.
We saw it here too. There were those, who hearing the breaking news, tried to make a #misogyny trying to make a link to this unmitigated tragedy, seeking to associate the murder of these three innocents to “a very long history in Ireland” of ‘control of women’s bodies and sexuality.
You know who you are, and you are shameful.
Others disgracefully made disparaging remarks about the victims’ family names and the travelling community. I hope the bereaved family are shielded from such cruelty and that they know we are, as a nation, united in prayer and support for them in their unbearable suffering.
Let us now offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of Lisa, Christy, and Chelsea.
Let us also pray for their mother, brother, family and friends who are left behind to face this nightmare that none of us can fully comprehend.