Girl ‘grabbed by stranger’
Cancer fight author Hannigan laid to rest
A SCHOOLGIRL was approached by a man who grabbed her and ordered her to come with him, it was revealed yesterday.
She was walking on the main Laurel Lodge Road in Castleknock, West Dublin, close to the shops.
A source said the man, who she didn’t know, took hold of her and told her she had to go with him.
It is understood the child kicked the man and then ran off.
Gardai in Blanchardstown are investigating. HEARTBROKEN mourners said their last goodbye to author Emma Hannigan as she was laid to rest yesterday.
The mum of two passed away on Saturday after an 11-year battle with cancer, just weeks after revealing she hadn’t long left to live.
The best-selling author’s husband Cian and children Sacha and Kim led the crowds who turned out to pay their respects.
A speech penned by the 45-year-old before her death was read out by Fr Gerry Byrne at her funeral mass in Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church in Foxrock, Co Dublin.
Mourners heard how she had “no regrets, only that I have to leave right now”. She added: “I hope you know I will be there in your hearts, and you will always be in mine.”
In a special message to her kids, Emma wrote: “Keep dancing both of you, keep having fun, be careful won’t you.”
In the touching speech, Emma thanked her family, friends and fans for their support during her long illness.
She said “there could never have been enough time” but added she had no regrets about her life, other than that it was cut short.
Emma said: “Yes, life was great, surrounded by my family and so many great friends.
“I can hold my head up and say I never had a day where I felt lonely, or as if I had nobody to turn to. I never felt I was on my own.
“My cancer fight was up there for all to read on Facebook or through my blog. The peer to peer support I
I can hold my head up and say I never had a day where I felt lonely
EMMA’S MESSAGE
received there was priceless. I had such loyal readers and followers who took my hand and walked along by my side.
“To each person I met along my way, thank you.
“Thank you for helping to shape my life.
“They say all things happen for a reason. I don’t want to go looking over my shoulder or waving my fist in anger. That was never my style. “But the truth of the matter is this. I would never have wanted to go.
“There would never have Mary Mitchell O’connor YESTERDAY