THE family of Scarlett Faulkner, who died after allegedly being beaten on the side of a roadway over three weeks ago, pledged at her funeral that she would get the justice she deserves.
29- year-old Scarlett passed away last Monday after her life support was turned off at Cork University Hospital, three weeks after she was allegedly attacked outside Birdhill, CountyTipperary.
Victoria Faulkner told her late sister’s funeral mass, held at St Munchin’s Church in Limerick City: “We promise you sister, we will get the justice you deserve.”
“You were Daddy’s girl and Mommy’s world, we will love you forever, our sleeping beauty, from your 10 sisters and five brothers, and most importantly your beautiful daughter Oceanna, who you loved dearly, the same way she loved you.”
“You were a good mother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, friend to us all, you have left us with a beautiful little girl, Oceanna – a gift from God, who reminds us of you so much.”
Victoria Faulkner told her sister: “You loved your little girl with all your heart, you gave her everything that a mother could give and do for her, and we promise to show her all the pictures of you and her making fond memories together.”
“You never left us for a minute without telling each and every one of us ‘I love you’, and ending every text message with ‘I love you loads, daddy, mommy, sister, brother’. The love you showed us we will never forget.”
Prior to the funeral mass, speaking on behalf of her father, Victoria Faulkner asked mourners to be peaceful and not consume alcohol.
“We have had the hardest three weeks of our lives, we are suffering,” she said.
Canon Donal McNamara, of St Munchin’s parish, encouraged those gathered at the funeral mass to focus their energies on forgiveness.
“Forgiveness does not mean denying pain or excusing wrongdoing. Forgiveness is a journey, a long, difficult, challenging path that leads away from being consumed by anger and towards the freedom that God desires for each one of you,” said Fr McNamara.
“In moments like this, families can be torn apart or slowly healed. The choice is not easy.”
Fr McNamara encouraged Scarlett’s family to focus their attention on her six-year-old daughter, Oceanna.
“The greatest gift remains Scarlett’s daughter, Oceanna, and their bond is not ended in death, rather it is changed,” Fr McNamara.
The family decorated the church with floral tributes and heart-shaped images of Ms Faulkner.
A lilac casket carrying Ms Faulkner’s remains were brought to the church in a glass carriage drawn by four white horses.
Afterwards, Celine Dion’s 1996 hit song ‘Because You Loved Me’ was played on a speaker as Ms Faulkner’s casket was shouldered out of the church.
She was later laid to rest at her family plot at Meelick Cemetery.
Two people are before the courts charged in connection with the alleged attack on Ms Faulkner; a 16-year-old girl accused of assault causing serious harm to Ms Faulkner, and a 40-year-old woman charged with endangerment and violent disorder.
A post mortem examination was conducted on Ms Faulkner’s remains, however Gardaí did not release results. Investigations into Ms Faulkner’s alleged assault and subsequent death are ongoing.