Family of Ireland's first sextuplets prepare for funeral of smallest baby

By Adrian Rutherford and Emily Moulton
Thursday, 23 July 2009

 Sextuplet parents Austin and Nuala Conway on their wedding day in 2006

Sextuplet parents Austin and Nuala Conway on their wedding day in 2006

The heartbroken parents of Kerrie Conway — one of Ireland’s first set of sextuplets — will say an emotional farewell to their baby today.

Kerrie Mae, the last born and smallest of six babies, passed away in hospital after developing health complications.

She will be laid to rest following a funeral service at noon today at St Joseph’s Church in Killeenan, Co Tyrone. Her grieving parents, Nuala and Austin Conway, are said to be devastated and are being comforted by friends and family.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Sean Clarke knows the family and said the rural Dunamore community had been stunned by the tragedy.

“It is a huge blow to everyone and a terrible time for the community,” he said. “Everyone feels for the family.”

Publicist Max Clifford, who has been working with the Conway family, has spoken to the parents and said they have been left devastated.

Kerrie was one of six babies born to the couple, from Dunamore near Cookstown, on May 22. The other five babies — sisters Ursula, Shannon and Karla and brothers Austin and Eoghan — remain in hospital, but are said to be doing well.

My son was born at 1b 8oz Kerrie suffered so much so young.a true saint, the neonatal doctors and nurses are saints too....never saw such love for other peoples children as they worked.

I will never see it again towards my children and i know it in my heart, i had twin boys and im now a single mother, but the memories of those medical people will never leave my soul, and im writing this message today just to thank them with all my heart. x

KerrieMae always in our mnds and hearts.

Posted by sarah | 25.07.09, 00:12 GMT

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Heartbreak-my prayers are with them - RIP.

Posted by Michael | 23.07.09, 11:05 GMT

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