It is just not possible to make sense of this

A PRAYER service held for a mother and two children killed in a shooting incident has been told "we cannot rationalise what should never have taken place".

- BY CATE MCCURRY

Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and 13-year-old daughter Sara, were killed in a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide at a house in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh on Wednesday morning.

Ms Whyte was originally from Barefield, a village near Ennis in Co Clare.

Hundreds of people attended the prayer service, which took place in Barefield on last night.

Parish priest Fr Tom Fitzpatrick said Ms Whyte was a woman who loved her children "fiercely" and wanted the best for them.

He described how she worked hard and laughed a lot, and carried burdens "we may never fully understand".

Fr Fitzpatrick added: "Vanessa Whyte and her son James and daughter Sara, the unspeakable tragedy that has befallen our parish is something that is very hard to focus in on and get our minds around.

"But we're here, and that's the main thing.

"And we are here as well, not just praying for the three of them tonight in a very special way, and asking the Lord to take them to himself, that they be at peace. And I know they are.