The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Knife attack victim laid to rest
Sad scenes in Listowel at funeral of Robert Elston on Tuesday morning
THE floral display by the coffin containing the remains of Robert Elston spelled out with heartbreaking effect the huge loss his passing represents.
Just one word, ‘Dad’, revealed the role Mr Elston played in the life of his loved ones, in particular his six-yearold son, partner Karen, family, and many friends.
Their devastation at the loss of the 33-year-old, who died following a knife attack in Cahersiveen last week, was palpable as Mr Elston’s Requiem Mass was held in St Mary’s Church in Listowel on Tuesday morning, celebrated by Listowel Parish Priest Canon Declan O’Connor and attended by many in the community who knew Mr Elston and family.
Chief among the mourners were Mr Elston’s partner Karen, mother Mary, brother David, sister Chelsea and son as their friends in the community rallied to their side at what is their darkest hour.
Canon O’Connor communicated the sympathy of the entire community as he told the Elston family that they had the support of the community at this, their time of grief.
Following the Funeral Mass, Mr Elston’s remains were buried in the John Paul II Cemetery on the outskirts of Listowel, not far from his mother’s native community of Lisselton/Ballydonoghue, where she still lives.
News of his death last week rocked North Kerry as it did Cahersiveen where the fatal stabbing occurred.
Mr Elston had been in Cahersiveen to visit his son at the time of the attack, according to family members; having earlier that day visited his grandfather in University Hospital Kerry. He had been living in Lisselton, helping to care for his grandfather of late.
It emerged in the aftermath of the fatal stabbing last week that Mr Elston’s father, Robert senior, had also died as the result of a stabbing in London in 2005, aged 45.