To suddenly go from having two sisters to being an only child is horrific.”

The heart-breaking words of Emma Reilly, sister of Michelle Reilly (33) who died last Friday and Shauna Reilly (23) who died eight weeks ago.

The two sudden deaths have cast the Reilly family, and Michelle’s fiancé Simon, into a world of grief and pain.

“We are never going to get over this, ever. The only comfort we have is that Shauna and Michelle are together again,” Emma (30) tells The Impartial Reporter.

Eldest daughter of Jacqueline (née Flanagan) and Michael Reilly from Drumbeg, Enniskillen, Michelle was engaged to be married to Simon Stenson next March.

Described as “popular” and “intelligent”, Michelle was “a home bird” who called into the family home every day to check on her father who acquired a brain injury in 2010 following a heart attack. “Dad idolised her. She was born on his 21st birthday and they named her Michelle because it’s French for Michael,” Emma explains.

Following her initial primary education in Duleek Girls National School, County Meath, Michelle was 10 when she began at Holy Trinity Primary School, Enniskillen. 

Her “stubborn” streak was displayed when ran out of the classroom during preparation for the eleven plus. The matter was rectified when Michelle was given her own table outside the classroom! She then passed the eleven plus “with flying colours.”

At Mount Lourdes Grammar School, Michelle particularly enjoyed German, IT and netball.

She worked part-time in Beatty’s, Ballinamallard and, for the past 11 years, had been “a diligent worker” at Quinn Insurance, where she had been team leader on occasion.

A “little boy racer”, Michelle was easily spotted by her co-workers as she drove a Toyota Celica. 

Emma worked and lived alongside her oldest sister for a time and recalls fondly the fun times they shared with their friends and while on holiday in Malia in Greece and at an uncle’s wedding in Philadelphia.

“I don’t know what life is like without Michelle,” Emma comments. 

“She just couldn’t live without Shauna. Wherever one was, the other wasn’t far behind. From day dot Michelle idolised Shauna. She used to treat her like a china doll and waken her up to change her clothes. She told Shauna to call her mummy!”

Emma adds that Michelle will also be dearly missed by her best friends Vicky Love, Noreen Tighe (Curran) and Melissa Robinson.

The Reilly family are thankful for the “amazing” support they received from Father Raymond Donnelly who conducted Shauna and Michelle’s funeral masses.

At Michelle’s funeral mass in St. Michael’s Church on Monday, Father Donnelly told mourners how difficult it was to comprehend that two sisters have died the same way. He voiced the importance of people talking about their problems and stressed that, even though people with mental health issues can push you away, you should make the effort. He also emphasised that people should contact Lifeline or Action Mental health.

Emma believes that there is a lack of adequate mental health services in Fermanagh and is appealing for politicians to make it their number one issues ahead of the election in two weeks.

The family are grateful for the support they have received from the local community and now ask for privacy to grieve for their “amazing girls.”
Emma was heartened to see staff at Rooney’s Spar and Teleperformance line the route to Michelle’s final resting place at Cross Cemetery, where she is buried beside her little sister Shauna.

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