Funeral Mass held for O’Connor family

Three people killed in County Louth were “deeply loved and so highly regarded”, mourners at their funeral have been told.

Louise O’Connor, who was 56, her 54-year-old husband Mark O’Connor, and their 27-year-old son Evan O’Connor, who had additional needs, were found dead at their rural home in Drumgowna on 29 September.

Their joint funeral Mass was held at St Patrick’s Church in Dundalk and was led by Fr Gerry Campbell, the administrator for Louth parish.

The priest said so many had already spoken about the family with “so many wonderful words of admiration, affection and sorrow”.

He added that Mark, Louise and Evan were “united in love”, and Evan was his parents’ “joy, their pride and their world”.

Fr Campbell spoke about Mark’s hard working nature, as he advocated for people with special needs and worked with community.

“Mark knew what it meant to labour – not just in his work, but in his calling to justice and compassion,” he said. “Mark gave himself completely for the good of others.”

He mentioned Mark’s love of running and how he would encourage others “to keep going”.

Speaking about Louise, Fr Campbell said she was “full of life… talkative, warm, musical and compassionate”.

He told mourners Louise’s heart was “alive with love” and she “cared for others with gentleness and humour, bringing comfort and joy to the people she met”.

Louise “loved Mark and Evan with every part of her being” and added that Mark and Louise were “soulmates”.

Fr Campbell went on to talk about Evan and “his love of holidays, of swimming, of his colourful odd socks and bright T-shirts”.

“His love of Thomas the Tank Engine… His joy in going to the Hub Praxis in Drogheda, his love of theme parks, aqua aerobics, going with his Dad to the Park Runs,” he continued.

He said Evan’s love was “unfiltered and wholehearted”.

A private cremation service is to take place following the funeral Mass.

On 30 September, Robert O’Connor, 31, of Drumgowna, appeared before a special sitting of Drogheda District Court charged with three counts of murder.