Rosie’s funeral on Saturday as gardaí end DNA sweep of house

THE funeral of murdered Limerick pensioner Rosie Hanrahan will take place on Saturday, while the Garda technical examination of her house was completed yesterday.

The 78-year-old woman’s body was discovered in her home on New Road in Thomondgate last Friday afternoon. It’s believed Ms Hanrahan may have been strangled after intruders wrongly believed she wasn’t in the house at the time, although gardaí have not commented on this.

In a heartfelt tribute to Ms Hanrahan, Fr Donal McNamara, parish priest at St Munchin’s Church in Limerick, said: ‘I knew Rosie well. She came to Mass at St Munchin’s every Saturday. She always sat in the same place on the side aisle of the chapel. She found great solace and comfort and support from attending Mass.’

Members of the local congregation observed a minute’s silence in memory of the late widow at a Christmas carol event on Sunday.

Fr McNamara said: ‘Rose would have certainly been at it. She was very active in her community, she was always upbeat and positive. She was a lovely lady.’

He added: ‘There is a lot of anxiety and fear in the community.’

Gardaí have urged anyone living in fear to acquire personal safety alarms via the Senior Alert Scheme on pobal.ie.

Meanwhile, a forensic sweep of her bungalow was conducted over the past six days by specially trained gardaí, including a DNA expert.

Mrs Hanrahan will be reposing at Griffin’s Funeral Home, John’s Gate, Penneywell, from 5pm tomorrow, with removal at 6.30pm to St Munchin’s Church, Clancy’s Strand. Her remains will be laid to rest at Ballycannon Cemetery, Meelick, Co. Clare, after 11.30am Mass on Saturday.