30-year-old Mum who died on a hen do is buried in her wedding dress as grieving fiance pays tribute
A tragic mum-of-three who died on a hen do has been laid to rest in her wedding dress as her devastated fiance pays tribute to his "soulmate".
Ruth Maguire, 30, was found dead in Calingford Lough in County Louth after becoming separated from her friends on a hen do last Saturday.
Ruth and her fiance James were together for 12 years
The mum, who was set to tie the knot with her partner of 12 years James Griffin in August, was today laid to rest in her wedding dress.
Paying tribute, grieving James said: "Ruth will be missed more than she will ever know by myself and our three children and families.
"Ruth wasn't just my partner, she was my soul mate."
Ruth's coffin, which was covered in flowers, was today followed by James and their children - Tyler, Lydia and Oliver - into St Vincent de Paul Church in Belfast.
Members of the RNLI carried bouquets of flowers, with one spelling out "Friend" driven in the hearse.
Children and adults at the local sports club where Ruth volunteered as a coach lined the streets outside the church to pay tribute.
Mourners heard how Ruth, who is originally from Belfast, was the baby of the family yet was still "the boss" who looked out for her sisters and brothers.
The priest also said the carer dedicated her life to others through her job, as well as her volunteer work with coaching sport and Irish dancing.
He said: "Ruth was slow to take offence and quick to forgive, she realised that life is too short.
"Family was at the heart of Ruth's life, and Ruth and Jim were due to receive the sacrament of marriage this year, my prayer is that the grace you were due to receive that day, will come to you today Jim and sustain you in the future."
Addressing Ruth's children, he added: "Today, remember your mummy loved you so very much, and your prayers will help you on life's journey, she was so proud of you, and you'll have so many people around you to help you."
A Mother's Day card her son made for next week is currently pride of place in the family home.
Ruth, from County Down in Ireland, was one of 32 women at the party and sparked a huge search when she failed to return to the house they were staying at in Ireland.
Her body was discovered by police on Monday afternoon in Carlingford Lough, an inlet of the sea on the border of the Republic and Northern Ireland.
It is close to the pub where the women were celebrating in Carlingford, Co Louth, on Saturday night.
Police are understood to believe she accidentally fell in the water.
Her sister Rachel Wilkinson 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 Ryan's little girl Nyla, 8 - 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."
Children and adults at the local sports club where Ruth volunteered as a coach lined the streets outside the church to pay tribute.
Mourners heard how Ruth, who is originally from Belfast, was the baby of the family yet was still "the boss" who looked out for her sisters and brothers.
The priest also said the carer dedicated her life to others through her job, as well as her volunteer work with coaching sport and Irish dancing.
He said: "Ruth was slow to take offence and quick to forgive, she realised that life is too short.
"Family was at the heart of Ruth's life, and Ruth and Jim were due to receive the sacrament of marriage this year, my prayer is that the grace you were due to receive that day, will come to you today Jim and sustain you in the future."
Via The Sun