Tragic Jastine is laid to rest

THE heartbroken parents of Jastine Valdez said their final farewell to their only child yesterday as the Filipina student was laid to rest.

Her burial took place in her hometown of Aritao in the Philippines, just days after her 25th birthday. Jastine, who was abducted and murdered by Mark Hennessy in Co. Wicklow over six weeks ago, was brought back to her native country shortly after her body was discovered in the Dublin Mountains.

However, due to the traditional Filipino belief that a person’s soul does not leave their body until 40 days after their death, her remains have since been in repose in her grandmother’s house.

The Honorary Consul for the Philippines in Ireland, Mark Christopher Congdon, paid tribute to Ms Valdez, pictured. He said: ‘We will always miss you Jastine and miss what could have been.’