FUNERAL details have been announced for Irish mother-of-three Ruth Maguire after her tragic drowning death last weekend.
The 30-year-old Belfast native – who lived in Newcastle, Co. Down and worked as a nursing assistant at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry – will be laid to rest in Co. Antrim on Saturday.
She had been out on a hen do with 32 friends across the border in Carlingford, Co. Louth on Saturday night when she went missing from Taaffe's bar in the town.
Her body was later recovered from Carlingford Lough on Monday after a multi-agency search involving Gardaí and the Irish Coast Guard.
It is believed that her death was a tragic accident.
Ruth Maguire, 30, pictured (left) just hours before her death (Image: Facebook)Ms Maguire's funeral notice reads: "Beloved partner of James, loving mother of Tyler, Lydia and Oliver, daughter of Geraldine and Malachy, sister of Raymond, Rachel and Ryan.
"Ruth will arrive at St Vincent de Paul Church for 9.00am Requiem Mass on Saturday March 23.
"Funeral afterwards to Carnmoney Cemetery for committal at 11.00am.
"Deeply regretted by her loving partner, children, parents, brothers, sister and family circle."
In an emotional interview last night, Ms Maguire's older sister Rachel Wilkinson revealed her tragic sibling would be buried in the wedding dress she never got to wear.
Ms Maguire with sister Rachel Wilkinson, left, and friend Michelle McCabe, right (Image: Facebook)Rachel told the Belfast Telegraph: "She was getting married on August 8. Everything was ready; she was very organised.
"I was going to be maid of honour. All the children – hers, mine and (brother) Ryan's – were going to be flower boys and girls. There were 180 guests.
"We are going to let her wear her wedding dress in the coffin".
Rachel said her parents Malachy Maguire and Geraldine Worthington, who live in London, were devastated and shocked by their daughter's sudden passing.
She added: "Even though she was the baby of the family she was the sensible one of the four of us.
"She was very determined and even with three kids she was always studying and trying to progress in work. She was inspirational because she was such a brilliant mum.
"We're a very close family but her and I were particularly close. We were best friends and sisters. We talked every day... the hardest part for all of us is that she's not here."
