A moment’s silence was observed today as a mark of respect in memory of Vanessa Whyte (45) and her two children James (14) and Sara (13) Rutledge at the All-Ireland Football Final in Croke Park.
“Lovely tribute to Vanessa Whyte & her children, James and Sara, at Croke Park,” wrote journalist Niamh Campbell.
“All were dedicated members to Lisbellaw Hurling Club & St Mary’s Maguiresbridge GFC . A prayer service will take place this evening for them at 7pm in Vanessa‘s homeplace of Barefield, Co Clare.”
Tribute was also paid this week by St Joseph’s Doora Barefied GAA club who said they “were shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Barefield native Vanessa Whyte and her two beautiful children James and Sara in Fermanagh.”
“The Whyte family have a long association with our club with Vanessa’s late father Joe part of our first ever country hurling winning team of 1954,” the club said. “Her brothers Steve and Ivor also represented the club at all grades and among their honours were intermediate hurling championships in 1993 and 2016 respectively.”
A book of condolences has opened at Maguiresbridge Primary School in memory of Ms Whyte and her children who were shot dead at their home on Wednesday
Ian Rutledge, Ms Whyte’s husband, is suspected of shooting his wife, who is a native of Co Clare, and the couple’s two children, before attempting suicide at the family home in Maguiresbridge.
Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the triple murder.