Daughter shares loving message as she prepares for funeral of murdered mum

THE funeral of a nurse stabbed to death at her home on Christmas Day will take place on Thursday.

Jayne Toal Reat (43) died in her daughter’s arms following the incident, which happened shortly before 6am on December 25 at a house on Mornington Lane in Lisburn.

Ms Reat, who had worked in Craigavon Area Hospital, will be laid to rest at St Patrick’s Church in Banbridge, followed by a private cremation.

A death notice describes Ms Reat as the “much-loved mummy of Charlotte”.

Her daughter Charlotte (21), who lives in Comber, was also injured in the attack, along with a male victim who is understood to be Jayne’s partner, Joseph Tweedie.

The family is asking those attending the funeral to wear “suitable attire with something small in powder blue or baby pink as these were Jayne’s favourite colours”.

Nathan Ward (19) has since been charged with the murder of Ms Reat.

He is also charged with the attempted murder of Charlotte Reat and Mr Tweedie.

The teenager appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday morning and remains in custody.

He is also scheduled to appear at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Monday, January 8.

Following her death, Ms Reat’s daughter Charlotte shared a heartbreaking last photograph of herself with her mother. Jayne Toal Reat with daughter Charlotte Reat and (right) Nathan Ward, who has been charged with Jayne’s murder

She posted an image taken on Christmas Eve, just hours before her mother was murdered.

“This is the last picture I took with my beautiful mummy on Christmas Eve before we cuddled up on the sofa for the last

time,” Charlotte said on her Facebook page.

“Just before she gave me her last kiss, her last hug and before she told me she loved me for the very last time.

“My mummy has been taken from me, her life was taken from her far too soon in the most cruel way.”

She had worried the photo had been lost forever, after sharing it through social media on Snapchat — which automatically deletes images after a short time.

“I have been in a panic that I’ll never have this photo as it was on Snapchat and I haven’t got my phone, but thankfully one of my best friends screen-shot it for me on Christmas morning,” Charlotte said.

“Love my angel with all my heart and soul.”

And the partner of murdered Jayne, body builder Joseph Tweedie, also paid a heartfelt online tribute to Jayne on Saturday.

He changed his Facebook profile picture to one of Charlotte and Jayne, saying: “Love these pair so much, miss you Jayne.”