.jpg)
.svg)
A community stands in grief as a sister’s promise of justice echoes through St Munchin’s Church.
The streets of Limerick fell silent this afternoon as a glass carriage, drawn by four white horses draped in banners of remembrance, carried 29-year-old Scarlett Faulkner to her final rest. The poignant scene marked the end of a weeks-long vigil that began on a Saturday evening in March and concluded as the young mother was laid to rest in the family plot at Meelick Cemetery.
Scarlett’s life was tragically cut short following a brutal incident on March 21 near Birdhill village, North Tipperary. Emergency services discovered her on the side of the R494 roadway suffering from catastrophic head injuries. Investigators allege that Scarlett was an innocent victim in a sequence of events that began with her vehicle being rammed by another car. It is further alleged that she was dragged from the vehicle and struck multiple times with an iron bar.
After fighting for her life at Cork University Hospital for over three weeks, her family made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support last Sunday. She passed away peacefully on Monday evening, April 13, surrounded by her loved ones.
During a moving funeral Mass at St Munchin’s Church, her sister Victoria Faulkner delivered a eulogy that moved the congregation to applause. "You were Daddy’s girl and Mommy’s world," Victoria said. "You were a character; you always made us laugh. We promise you, sister, we will get the justice you deserve." Victoria also spoke of the legacy Scarlett leaves behind in her six-year-old daughter, Oceanne, describing the child as a "gift from God" who serves as a constant reminder of her mother’s spirit.
The parish priest, Canon Dónal McNamara, addressed the deep pain felt by the Faulkner family, encouraging a path toward peace. He noted that Scarlett’s life was one "intertwined with love, responsibility, and hope," and reminded those gathered that the bond between Scarlett and Oceanne is "not ended in death, but changed."
The legal proceedings surrounding the case are moving toward a critical phase. Two individuals remain in custody: a 16-year-old girl charged with assault causing serious harm, and a 40-year-old woman facing charges of endangerment and violent disorder. Both defendants, whose identities are protected by court-ordered reporting restrictions, are scheduled to appear again on remand on Thursday, April 23.
As Celine Dion’s "Because You Loved Me" played, Scarlett’s lilac casket was shouldered from the church to a flatbed lorry—a traditional family tribute—for her final procession. The day was defined by the family's earlier plea for absolute peace, a request observed with dignity by the hundreds in attendance, ensuring that the "sleeping beauty" of Limerick was sent off with the respect and love she showed to others throughout her life.
