A father suspected of killing his wife and children before turning the gun on himself has been pictured following his death.
Ian Rutledge, 43, was the only suspect in the shooting of his family at a property on Drummeer Road in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, on Wednesday morning.
The agricultural engineer died in hospital earlier this week and is believed to have taken his own life after killing his wife and their two children.
Vanessa Whyte, 45, a veterinary surgeon originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, all died on the day of the shooting last week.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said all four were members of the same household and all four suffered gunshot wounds.
The mother and her children are set to be buried together in her home town of Barefield on Saturday.
A post from the funeral directors paid tribute to Ms Whyte, describing her as ‘a devoted mother, a loving and beloved daughter and sister and a loving and beloved daughter-in-law and sister-in-law’.
James was a ‘much-loved son, brother, and grandson’ and Sara ‘was a dearly loved daughter, sister, and granddaughter’, the post added.
Ian Rutledge (pictured), 43, is suspected of killing his wife and children before turning the gun on himself
Vanessa Whyte (centre), 45, a veterinary surgeon originally from Co Clare, her son James (right), 14, and daughter Sara (left), 13, all died on the day of the shooting last week
The mother and her children (pictured together) are set to be buried together in her home town of Barefield on Saturday
Three ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the scene at about 8.20am on Wednesday July 23, where Ms Whyte and one of the children were tragically pronounced dead.
The other child was airlifted by air ambulance to to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen where they sadly later died as a result of their injuries.
On Friday, mourners gathered for a vigil in the grounds of Maguiresbridge Primary School, where the children had been former students.
Religious figures addressed the crowd, which included a number of senior politicians, before attendees observed a minute’s silence.
At a prayer service on Sunday evening at the local Church of the Immaculate Conception, parish priest Father Tom Fitzpatrick 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,’ he added.
‘Dreams that will never be fulfilled, but dreams that mattered because they were theirs.’
On Friday, mourners gathered for a vigil in the grounds of Maguiresbridge Primary School, where the children had been former students
Honor Irvine, principal of the school, pictured signing a book of condolences for shooting victims
Crowds attended a prayer service on Sunday evening at the local Church of the Immaculate Conception
The tragic incident, described by police as ‘harrowing’, occurred at a residence in the Drumeer Road area of Maguiresbridge.
Ms Whyte and her two children have been described as ‘active and beloved’ members of both St Mary’s Maguiresbridge Gaelic Football Club and Lisbellaw St. Patrick’s Hurling Club in the area.
Ms Whyte is also understood to have volunteered as the Coaching Officer at the hurling club where she helped with its underage training sessions.
In a statement, the club said they were ‘working with the GAA at county, provincial and national level to implement the association’s critical incident protocols’.
Katrina Godfrey, permanent secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) paid tribute to Ms Whyte, remembering her as a ‘hugely respected member of the veterinary profession’.
Ms Godfrey, who said Ms Whyte was a member of the Veterinary Services and Animal Health Group, added: ‘She will be greatly missed by all who worked alongside her.
‘On behalf of the department, we offer our sincere condolences to her family, friends and all those in the community impacted by her and her children’s deaths.’
Chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher said Ms Whyte was ‘hugely admired’ by her colleagues, with her loss ‘profoundly affecting’ all those who knew her.
Three ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the scene (pictured) at about 8.20am, where Ms Whyte, alongside one of the children, were tragically pronounced dead, before the other child died in hospital
Police tape pictured surrounding the scene of the horrific shooting
In a heartbreaking statement issued by Enniskillen Cricket Club, both Sara and James were described as ‘lovely natured children’.
‘Both of them turned out to be talented young cricketers and two absolutely lovely natured children,’ the statement added.
Meanwhile, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School said it was mourning ‘the loss of two vibrant and much-valued pupils’.
In a statement, the school’s principal Elizabeth Armstrong added: ‘I know that our school community will hold each other close in this time of loss.’
Fermanagh Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) also offered its ‘heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those impacted’ by the incident.
All three family members were each members of two GAA clubs in County Fermanagh.
The GAA said: ‘In what is a hard time for our small community, we would ask everyone to pull together and support each other through these difficult times.’
Bishop of Clogher Larry Duffy described feeling ‘deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news’.
Police said there was no danger posed to the wider public in the aftermath of the incident, which shocked the rural community just a few miles north of the UK-Ireland border
The Police Service of Northern Ireland launched an urgent investigation into a suspected triple homicide and attempted suicide as a line of enquiry (pictured: police vehicles on the road outside the house)
He added: ‘While we do not know all the circumstances surrounding this tragedy, I am very aware that the news is causing deep distress in the community of Co Fermanagh and beyond.
‘I assure the family of the deceased, and everyone affected by this tragedy, of my prayers and assure them of the prayerful support of the wider community.’
On Thursday morning, Sinn Fein MP for the area Pat Cullen told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme: ‘There’s just a feeling of disbelief in the community and certainly amongst ourselves.
‘To say we’re absolutely heartbroken is really an understatement, I don’t think any of us can find words.
‘Two wee children have lost their lives, and a mummy, when they should just be enjoying the school holidays and having a wonderful time.
‘You can see from the tributes that they belonged to the local Lisbellaw hurling club and St Mary’s Gaelic club and they were really a part of the community, the fabric of the community.
‘The people here are almost silent, we were in the community yesterday, and you could almost see mothers holding tightly to their young children as they stood.
‘The one thing that I will say about Maguiresbridge and the people in it: the churches, the Gaelic clubs ; and wider community will definitely wrap their arms around each other and get through this.’
Katrina Godfrey, permanent secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) paid tribute to Ms Whyte, remembering her as a ‘hugely respected member of the veterinary profession’ (Pictured: the scene of the tragic incident on Wednesday)
In a heartbreaking statement issued by Enniskillen Cricket Club, both Sara and James were described as ‘lovely-natured children’
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken by the news from Maguiresbridge today. My thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the local community.
‘I have no doubt that the people of Maguiresbridge will come together and support one another through this incredibly difficult time.’
Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen expressed her deep shock, saying: ‘Firstly my thoughts are with the victims and their families at this tragic time.
The Sinn Fein representative added: ‘I am in contact with the police around this ongoing situation.
‘Police are currently at the scene of an incident outside Maguiresbridge and there are a number of road closures while they carry out their investigations. I would urge people to not speculate on the details of this tragic and shocking incident.’
Deborah Erskine, a Democratic Unionist Party assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the incident has ‘stunned the entire community’.
‘The area of Maguiresbridge where this has happened is a rural, quiet area and everyone is deeply affected by what has happened this morning,’ she added.
‘My deepest condolences are with the families of those who have been killed as a result of this incident. Their lives have been turned upside down this morning.
‘This morning I was speaking to police dealing with the incident. I paid tribute to the emergency services at the scene. I also appeal for privacy to allow the PSNI to carry out their investigations.’
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