The family of Michaela Davis tonight issued a statement in memory of their daughter whose body was found dumped near the Royal Canal in Dublin on Saturday.
“This is a heart-wrenching situation,” the family said.
“A young 12-year-old girl who was full of life has been lost. She was very close to her mum, dad and brother Brendan. They were always there for one another.
“Michaela had started her first day of secondary school on Thursday last. She was given her first homework which was due to be handed in tomorrow, never to be answered.
“The Davis family has lived at the family home at The Village, Porterstown, for more than 16 years.
“All Michaela’s friends are heartbroken at the moment and cannot get their heads around this tragedy, no more than the rest of the extended family and friends.
“The needless loss of a young child, the awful tragedy of a girl barely beginning life. This situation is not and never will be about the crime or the perpetrator - it’s about Michaela and the realisation of a parent’s worst fear to lose a child so full of life.”