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Fourth person dies after shooting last week in Northern Ireland Fourth person dies after shooting last week in Northern Ireland
(32 minutes later)
Police say Ian Rutledge, 43, died in hospital after the incident in Maguiresbridge, County FermanaghPolice say Ian Rutledge, 43, died in hospital after the incident in Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh
A fourth person has died after a shooting in County Fermanagh in which a mother and two children were killed.A fourth person has died after a shooting in County Fermanagh in which a mother and two children were killed.
Police said Ian Rutledge, 43, had died in hospital after the incident in Maguiresbridge last Wednesday. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, died earlier. Ian Rutledge, 43, died in hospital on Monday eveningafter the incident in Maguiresbridge last Wednesday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland(PSNI) said. Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from County Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, died earlier.
A murder investigation was launched last week. Northern Ireland police said a triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry. A murder investigation was launched last week. Police said a triple murder and attempted suicide was one line of inquiry. All four suffered gunshot wounds.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Monday that Rutledge had been in hospital in a serious condition, and had died. The PSNI said on Monday that Rutledge had been in hospital in a serious condition, and had died. “Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,” a police spokesperson said.
“Detectives have reiterated their appeal for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward,” a police spokesperson said.
The shooting stunned the rural community and prompted tributes to the victims. “We are heartbroken. May they rest in peace,” a note left with flowers at the scene said.The shooting stunned the rural community and prompted tributes to the victims. “We are heartbroken. May they rest in peace,” a note left with flowers at the scene said.
Whyte, originally from Ennis, County Clare in the Republic of Ireland, reportedly moved to Fermanagh several years ago and was employed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Enniskillen. A prayer service for Whyte and her two children took place in Barefield, Co Clare in the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, following a community vigil in Maguiresbridge last Friday.
Colleagues and friends told local media she was a popular, down-to-earth woman who was devoted to her children. Enniskillen Royal grammar school said it was mourning “the loss of two vibrant and much valued pupils”. During the service, parish priest Fr Tom Fitzpatrick said: “The unspeakable tragedy that has befallen our parish is something that is very hard to focus in on and get our minds around.
“What affects an individual or affects a particular family in the parish, it affects everybody,” he added. “I know Vanessa was a woman who gave, and who gave, and who gave, and James and Sara were light made flesh themselves.”
He said: “Let us remember Vanessa not just by the way she died, but by the life she lived, her smile, her strength, her incredible powerful love for her children. She gave it her all to the very end.”
“We remember James and Sara, not just as victims of violence, but as children who played and who laughed and had their favourite stories, of course favourite foods I’m sure as well, and great dreams. Dreams that will never be fulfilled, but dreams that mattered because they were theirs.”
A funeral service is expected to take place in Co Clare later this week.
Whyte reportedly moved to Fermanagh several years ago and was employed by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Enniskillen. Colleagues and friends told local media she was a popular, down-to-earth woman who was devoted to her children. Enniskillen Royal grammar school said it was mourning “the loss of two vibrant and much valued pupils”.
The ambulance service said it had received a call at 8.21am on Wednesday and dispatched emergency crews to the scene, where Whyte and one child were pronounced dead. An air ambulance took the injured man to the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast while an ambulance took the other child to a hospital in Enniskillen, where the teenager was pronounced dead.The ambulance service said it had received a call at 8.21am on Wednesday and dispatched emergency crews to the scene, where Whyte and one child were pronounced dead. An air ambulance took the injured man to the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast while an ambulance took the other child to a hospital in Enniskillen, where the teenager was pronounced dead.
Pat Cullen, the Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said people were mourning valued members of the community. “Two wee children have lost their lives and a mummy, when they just should be enjoying the school holidays and having a wonderful time,” she told the BBC.Pat Cullen, the Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said people were mourning valued members of the community. “Two wee children have lost their lives and a mummy, when they just should be enjoying the school holidays and having a wonderful time,” she told the BBC.
A tribute to Whyte and her children was displayed at the All-Ireland final in Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday.