Stephen DeLoughry found dead.

By Louise McCarthy

Appeal to support tragic families

‘THE TWISTS and turns of life are beyond our understanding’ reflected Clonroche parish priest at the funeral of 28-year-old Stephen DeLoughry. Fr Bernard Cushen appealed to the parish of Cloughbawn to support the DeLoughrey and Giltrap families, since the tragic discovery of  two bodies, following a suspected drugs overdose.

The bodies of Stephen deLoughrey and his 32-year-old fiancee, Melissa Giltrap, were found in the upstairs bedroom of 6 Woodlands, Clonroche, on May 4, at 4.30p.m.

Mr DeLoughrey’s younger sister, Daragh, discovered the bodies. Emergency services were called to the scene but they had already been dead for some time. Mr DeLoughrey’s sister who is  engaged to a Clonroche man, and Mr de Loughrey’s brother Jamie, also live at 6 Woodlands.

The news of the tragic deaths only unfolded for the Giltrap family while they were mourning the death of Ann Giltrap, a 55-year-old aunt of Melissa Giltrap. She had died following a quick illness. and the Giltrap family were attending funeral services at St. Senan’s Church, on Monday evening, when it emerged that Melissa and Stephen had been found dead.  Meanwhile Melissa’s mother, Lily, is just recovering from a serious operation.

The couple were buried separately on Thursday, Ms Giltrap was buried in Enniscorthy, while Mr DeLoughrey was buried in Cloughbawn.

Chief mourners at Mr DeLoughry’s funeral included his father David, sister Daragh, brother Jamie, grandmothers Maud DeLoughrey, Ann O’Dowd, and his uncle Larry, aunts Christine, Brenda & Rita.

Fr Bernard Cushen, said, “On this very sad occassion, the twists and turns of life are beyond our understanding, as some things are only understood by God. Our part here is a temporary thing, on behalf of the parish of Cloughbawn, we will remember you in the weeks and months ahead and give you strength.”

As the news emerged that Mr Deloughrey and Ms Giltrap had died, Enniscorthy and Clonroche became united in mourning. Ms Giltrap comes from a well-known family in Enniscorthy town while Mr Deloughrey had become a huge part of the community in Clonroche  since his move from West Dublin a decade ago. Tributes from Clonroche and Dublin flowed into social media, expressing heartfelt sadness.

Keith Gaynor, said, “Taken too young, I’ll always remember the good times we had growing up pal, rest in peace.”

Another friend Andy Quinn expressed his disbelief on social media, “Cant believe pal only buzzn with ya last week on the phone talking ’bout the old days like pure madness RIP brother sleep tight.”

Shocked neighbours said that Mr Deloughrey was always very friendly. Speaking to The Echo, Cllr John O’Rourke, recalled how he coached Mr Deloughrey at soccer when he first moved from Blanchardstown to Clonroche about ten years ago.

Cllr O’Rourke, said that Mr Deloughrey was a ‘kind, gentle soul’, affectionately known as MUT2.

The councillor was also a great friend of Mr Deloughrey’s  late mother and worked with her as a volunteer at the Touched by Suicide shop in Enniscorthy.

Soccer was an important part of Mr De Loughrey’s life and it helped him to integrate into the community when he first moved from Dublin. The Cloughbawn soccer club formed a guard of honour at his funeral.

Speaking to The Echo, a representative of Cloughbawn Football club, Molly Kehoe, said, “He played with the club when he came to Cloughbawn first. It is very sad, two young people are dead. Stephen always said hello and chatted, he was very friendly. He was always willing to help out in the community, he fitted in very well, and had a lot of friends in Clonroche. It is very hard on Daragh, as she found the bodies, she was very young when her mother died. This is a horrific time for the community.”

Melissa Giltrap, was also a familiar face in Clonroche.The couple became engaged in 2013. She  comes from a popular family in Enniscorthy and  was the mother of Chloe Giltrap, a second year pupil at Enniscorthy Vocational College.

Mr DeLoughrey was unemployed, but neighbours said he had been seeking work. He shared his time between his family home at 6 Woodlands, Clonroche, and 87 Gimont Avenue, Enniscorthy, where Melissa Giltrap lived, with her daughter, from a previous relationship.

Melissa Giltrap