Published: Wednesday, 20th February, 2008 12:30
Final farewell to a 'little princess'
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Family and friends gathered to celebrate the tragically short life of Muireann McLaughlin.
A MENSTRIE toddler tragically killed after becoming tangled in a blind cord was laid to rest last Wednesday.
Family and friends gathered at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kinross to say farewell to Muireann McLaughlin.
Her devastated parents, Angus and Kate, paid an emotional tribute to the two-and-a-half-year-old after the tragedy saying the loss of their “little princess” had left a huge hole in their family.
Muireann was found tangled in the blind cord in her bedroom by her father Angus and four-year-old brother Cian.
Mourners attending the funeral were asked to wear pink by Muireann’s family, as their daughter’s favourite colour was pink and her favourite dress was pink with white polka dots.
They packed into the church where she was Christened, and where as a baby, she played the part of Jesus in the nativity play on her first Christmas.
Afterwards, Muireann’s funeral cortege travelled to Alva Cemetery, near her home in Menstrie, where her tiny coffin was interred.
The congregation sang her favourite hymns, including One More Step Along The World I Go, while Muireann’s Sunday school teacher read her favourite story – The Ten Little Ladybirds.
St Paul’s priest-in-charge Rev. Dr Marie Keston told the congregation that Muireann was a “precious, happy child” who was a part of the church family.
She told mourners that Muireann’s six-year-old sister, Aoife, called the two-year-old a “little princess”, and that she had a “very close relationship” with her radiology manager father Angus (39) – a founding member of Scots folk band Deaf Shepherd – and mother Kate (35) – a primary school teacher.
Dr Keston said, “We will remember her as part of our church family, as she was in church with us most Sundays. We will also remember her as a very precious child.
“She was a very happy child – a child who was affectionate, but also a very determined little girl.
“Her sister called her ‘little princess’, and her brother thought of her as his best friend. They had some wonderful games that they played together.
“She had a very close relationship with her grandparents and both of her parents, Angus and Kate, are just such loving caring parents. And to a family like that it is just so unexpected.
“Her family are proud because she could count up to 14 and she used to say big words like ‘important’ and ‘dangerous’.
“She was just a laughing, happy child. We are going to remember her at the time of her Christening in the church, and we will remember her when she was baby Jesus the first Christmas after she was born.
“We are also going to remember her dancing one week earlier in front of two bishops when we opened our new hall here at St Paul’s.
“Muireann was always singing along with the congregation in the church.
“And she was well known to our congregation – she has so many aunts and uncles and grandparents among us.
“I don’t think you could have a child more happy.”
Writing on his Bebo website which has been flooded with tributes, Angus said, “Thank you to everyone who has sent us their sympathies and well wishes.
“It does mean so much to us, and gives us strength at this time of grieving.
“Muireann is a special little star and should be remembered as such.”
Despite their loss Angus and Kate gave their permission for Muireann’s heart valves to be taken after her death, saving the life of two other children.
Angus has also called for a US-style ban on looped blind cords, which safety groups believe kill up to two children every year in the UK.
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