Carmel Collins and her family faced down violence and intimidation from gangland thugs who murdered her innocent son Roy, so that other families would not have to suffer a similar hell, her funeral mass heard Wednesday.
Ms Collins, aged in her 60s, passed away peacefully at Milford Hospice last Sunday, following a battle with cancer. Mr Collins, applauded by the congregation at St John’s Cathedral, thanked people for their continued support and “wonderful comments about Carmel”, describing her as “a lady” and “a woman of decency and respect”.
Speaking a few feet from his beloved wife’s coffin ordained with lily flowers beside her photograph, Mr Collins spoke of his wife’s dedication to her faith, and her love for St John’s Cathedral, where they had been married over 40 years previously.Their children and grandchildren “brought her love and happiness, something I thought would never come back to her after Roy’s death.”
“You hungered and you thirst for what is right and you made a difference. Both attitudes and laws were changed, courage triumphed, Limerick was changed and lives were saved.”