Hi °C | Lo °C 
The young mother who died in a tragic accident during the weekend storms was yesterday laid to rest.
There were emotional scenes as the coffin of Mairead Shields was carried by her husband Colin to St Patrick's Chapel in Downpatrick for her funeral service.
The 35-year-old mother of two little girls died during the severe storms that hit Northern Ireland on Saturday.
Mrs Shields, who was from Raholp, had been travelling along the Strangford Road when gale force winds uprooted a tree that smashed through the windscreen of the vehicle she was driving.
Mrs Shields’ husband described her as “one of the most loving people you ever could have met”.
He said: “She was a wonderful mother, a wonderful friend, and a wonderful wife.”
Her father Aiden also paid tribute to her as a “wonderful girl”.
“She was popular all over the world and touched everyone she met. We are devastated,” he said.
The accident happened as winds of up to 80mph cut electricity supplies to around 100,000 homes across Ireland, and fallen trees damaged power lines and blocked roads.
