Woman stabbed in Spain 'a person of great goodness'

HUNDREDS OF mourners turned out yesterday for the funeral of Avril Flanagan, who was stabbed in Spain a fortnight ago.

The small church of St Colmcille’s in her native Swords, Co Dublin, was filled to overflowing for the service.

Ms Flanagan (20), who was known as Abby, was killed on May 29th in an apartment near her Spanish home on the Costa Brava. She worked in her parents’ Smiling Jack’s pub in the resort of Torrevieja.

She was due to fly home that evening to attend a 21st birthday party in Celbridge.

Her former boyfriend Alan Daulby (24) was arrested in connection with her killing and is currently in police custody in Spain.

Local priest Fr Des Doyle described Avril as a “person of great goodness and grace” who had many natural talents, from singing to hip hop and karate. A hip hop trophy that she won a few years ago was placed on the altar.

He praised her parents Gerry and Barbara, who were the chief mourners along with Avril’s brothers Ger and David.

Ger is engaged to be married to Alan Daulby’s sister Emeline, but the family have made clear that they bear no animosity towards her for her brother’s alleged actions.

Fr Doyle said Avril’s family had loved her in a way that “convinced her of the goodness of life and the gift that life is”. He said though everybody was heartbroken, death could not “rob her of the reward of her goodness”.

A number of those close to her read tributes from the altar, including Ger Flanagan, who read a poem in Avril’s honour composed by a friend of hers in Spain.

Ms Flanagan’s body was buried after funeral Mass in Old Balgriffin Cemetery.