The family of missing woman Frankie Devlin whose body was found in Cork yesterday have made a touching request to thank the emergency services.
The 67-year-old had been last seen in the Garryvoe area of Cork on Saturday night.
Gardai confirmed her body had been found yesterday.
Now the family have asked mourners not to buy flowers, rather to donate to “the emergency, search and rescue organisations of your choice”.
The funeral notice read: “Frankie’s family wish to express to everyone their thanks, appreciation and kindness at this very sad time”.
Earlier today, Frankie’s pregnant daughter said the support from locals made their “hearts a little brighter”.
Erin Cronin revealed her mum was so excited for her new grandchild – as she thanked the community of East Cork and the public for all their help in the search for her beloved mother.
Erin said her heart sank when she saw all the garda vans launching the search.
She said: “Your heart would drop, but then when you see all the cars, like oh my god all these people have come down to help us.
“It’s been unreal, we would never ever be able to thank people enough, a million thank yous will not be enough.
“It’s after giving us strength. As hard as the days were it made our hearts a little bit brighter knowing how loved my mother was.
‘FOREVER GRATEFUL’
She told Cork’s C103: “It was just amazing. That’s something where social media is good, all the appeals, just texting, ringing do we need anything, do we need food.
“We’ll never be able to thank the guards, the coastguards, all the search team, the volunteers enough we will be forever grateful.
Erin said some members of the coastguard went out at 1.20am early Monday morning and didn’t go home until 7pm that night.
She said the family was thankful that her body was found and that they had could get some closure.
FOUND COMFORT
She added: “She’s with her loved ones up in heaven and that’s given us some comfort.
“We’re lucky we have under the circumstances, to have a body, we have something.
“There are some people out there missing for years and years and at least we have something and thank god she was found quite fast and she wasn’t in the elements that long.
“The reality of the whole situation won’t hit us until next week, the last few days have just been a blur and then you get news like this and you’re still up in the air.
Erin is currently six months pregnant with a baby due in January.
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She said her mother has three other grandchildren and was delighted at the news.
She revealed: “She was so excited, every time I ring her it wouldn’t be ‘how are you’ it would be like ‘how’s the bump?’”
“I know that if I don’t look after this bump my mother will be having strong words and sending strong signs to me.”