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Murdered honeymoon pair's funeral | |
(41 minutes later) | |
The Duchess of York has joined mourners at the funeral service for a couple murdered on their Caribbean honeymoon. | |
Catherine and Ben Mullany, both 31 and from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley, were shot in July at an Antiguan hotel. | |
The service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff was conducted by the rector who married them, accompanied by the Archbishop of Wales. | |
The duchess, who gave a reading, said she had been "touched" after meeting members of their families by chance. | |
She read WB Yeats's poem "He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven" and spoke during the service about why she agreed to be patron of the Mullany Fund, a memorial charity set up by the families of the couple. | |
She is also donating £10,000 from the Sarah Ferguson Foundation to the Mullanys' charity. | She is also donating £10,000 from the Sarah Ferguson Foundation to the Mullanys' charity. |
Sarah Ferguson explained that she became involved in the fund after meeting the couple's relatives on a plane to Antigua as she took her own daughters on holiday. | |
Sarah Ferguson: 'As a mum and a parent I was so touched' | Sarah Ferguson: 'As a mum and a parent I was so touched' |
"They [the couple's families] got postcards from Ben and Catherine after they had died," she said. | "They [the couple's families] got postcards from Ben and Catherine after they had died," she said. |
"I think any mother getting a postcard, they were so in love and so happy, it must have been very difficult. I don't want to think about it. | "I think any mother getting a postcard, they were so in love and so happy, it must have been very difficult. I don't want to think about it. |
"The nation was so touched by it and I just felt they were taken away at such a young age," she said. | "The nation was so touched by it and I just felt they were taken away at such a young age," she said. |
"It was the last day of their honeymoon. They had so much to do, they wanted to be doctors. | "It was the last day of their honeymoon. They had so much to do, they wanted to be doctors. |
"It was such an extraordinary story. | "It was such an extraordinary story. |
"As a mum and a parent I was so touched and I thought maybe we could find a way of helping the parents help live on without their children." | "As a mum and a parent I was so touched and I thought maybe we could find a way of helping the parents help live on without their children." |
On the morning of the funeral, their families also released a new picture of the couple from their wedding day. | On the morning of the funeral, their families also released a new picture of the couple from their wedding day. |
The couple, who met more than three years ago, were buried last month in a private ceremony believed to be at the church where they were married, St John the Evangelist in Cilybebyll, near their home. | The couple, who met more than three years ago, were buried last month in a private ceremony believed to be at the church where they were married, St John the Evangelist in Cilybebyll, near their home. |
The Reverend Martyn Perry, rector of Cilybebyll, led the funeral service, with Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan | |
At the service, two candles were lit for the couple before the archbishop's opening prayer and John Newton's hymn Amazing Grace was sung. | |
A tribute for Mr Mullany was given by his brother Adam and his friends Nicholas and Keith, while his wife's brother Richard paid tribute to her. | |
A male voice choir also sang the Welsh love song Myfanwy. | |
The couple were married on 12 July and travelled to the Caribbean island for their honeymoon.A logo has been created for the fund which also has a website | The couple were married on 12 July and travelled to the Caribbean island for their honeymoon.A logo has been created for the fund which also has a website |
Mr Mullany, a trainee physiotherapist, and his wife, a doctor, were shot in their holiday bungalow at the Cocos Hotel and Resort on the south-west of the island on 27 July, the final day of their two-week holiday. | Mr Mullany, a trainee physiotherapist, and his wife, a doctor, were shot in their holiday bungalow at the Cocos Hotel and Resort on the south-west of the island on 27 July, the final day of their two-week holiday. |
Mrs Mullany died at the scene and her husband died a week later after he was flown home to south Wales in a coma. | Mrs Mullany died at the scene and her husband died a week later after he was flown home to south Wales in a coma. |
A man and a youth have been remanded in custody in St John's, the capital of Antigua, charged with both murders. | A man and a youth have been remanded in custody in St John's, the capital of Antigua, charged with both murders. |
Keniel Martin, 20, and a youth aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, face charges of murder, robbery and receiving stolen goods. | Keniel Martin, 20, and a youth aged 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, face charges of murder, robbery and receiving stolen goods. |
Two women who have been bailed, face charges of receiving stolen property and perverting the course of justice. | Two women who have been bailed, face charges of receiving stolen property and perverting the course of justice. |
The memorial fund was set up earlier this month to help medical students follow in the footsteps of the couple. | The memorial fund was set up earlier this month to help medical students follow in the footsteps of the couple. |
The Mullany Fund intends to raise money to support UK students wishing to study medicine or physiotherapy. | The Mullany Fund intends to raise money to support UK students wishing to study medicine or physiotherapy. |
A website was launched which gives instructions on how to donate and has a guestbook facility for visitors to leave messages of support and a range of fundraising activities have been drawn up. | A website was launched which gives instructions on how to donate and has a guestbook facility for visitors to leave messages of support and a range of fundraising activities have been drawn up. |