Instructions detailed how family was to be buried

Funeral request: The Dunne family yesterday released the detailed funeral instructions which were finalised by Adrian and Ciara…

Funeral request:The Dunne family yesterday released the detailed funeral instructions which were finalised by Adrian and Ciara Dunne at an undertakers in New Ross last Friday.

The instructions set out in detailed terms how the couple wished themselves and their children to be buried in the event of their deaths.

Adrian's brother Larry released to local media the two pages of instructions which had been dictated to staff at James Cooney funeral directors in New Ross.

In instructions bearing Adrian Dunne's name, he requested that he be buried in a white solid oak coffin, wearing a Liverpool jersey and jeans.

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"When my death occurs, I am to be brought to Cooney's funeral home and left there for one night only and then brought to Boolavogue church," the instructions read.

"I wish for the following songs to be played at my funeral. You'll Never Walk Alone and Stairway To Heaven (Guns 'N' Roses)."

They added that if both he and his wife died together, they had told their solicitor that a Ms Sarah Ryan was to look after their two children. In a second page, apparently dictated by Ciara Dunne, she requested that the same steps be taken.

It added that in the event of the Dunne family dying together, the funeral directors should take the following steps:

"If Léan and Shania are under the age of six years of age, the following is to happen. Léan being the eldest child is too [ sic] placed in the coffin with her father Adrain [ sic] and Shania is to be placed in the coffin with her mother Ciara.

"If both children are over the age of six, they are to have two separate white coffins with pink lining on the inside of the coffin.

"The children are too [ sic] be dressed in the following clothes: Liverpool jerseys, Dora jeans and socks."

The instructions went on to say: "The headstone we require is a black marble headstone and kerbing. The headstone to be in the shape of a heart, there is to be a Liverpool crest on it, with red and white stones on it - Liverpool colours."

Carl O'Brien

Carl O'Brien

Carl O'Brien is Education Editor of The Irish Times. He was previously chief reporter and social affairs correspondent