RIP: Mother and 'lovely natured' children who were fatally shot in Fermanagh named locally

A mother and her two children who were the victims of a fatal shooting at their home in Fermanagh have been named locally.

Vanessa Whyte, originally from Ennis, Co Clare, was aged in her 40s and worked as a veterinary surgeon in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

She was killed alongside her children, James and Sara, on Wednesday morning, July 23. 

A fourth person, a man, remains in a serious condition in hospital and it has been confirmed by the PNSI that all four were members of the same family. 

Superintendent Robert McGowan said all four suffered gunshot wounds and police are now probing a triple murder and attempted suicide line of inquiry. 

Speaking in Enniskillen, Mr McGowan said that two people were pronounced dead at the scene while a third person died in hospital that Wednesday afternoon.

He added: “There is limited domestic history involving the people concerned and that is certainly one line of inquiry that the detectives will take forward.”

Authorities and ambulances were dispatched when a phone call was made from the house where the incident was taking place.

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A native of Barefield, Ms Whyte moved to Fermanagh several years ago where she and her children have been described as active members of the community. They were widely known for their love of sports, specifically football and hurling, where they were involved with St Marys Gaelic Football Club (GFC) in Maguiresbridge and St Patricks Hurling Club in Lisbellaw. 

In a statement yesterday, a spokesperson for the Gaelic football club said, "St Mary’s Maguiresbridge GFC offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those impacted by the tragic incident which happened in our community this morning.