Eoghan, (10) and his five year-old brother Ruairi Chada laid to rest on Friday in Co Carlow

A PRIEST has told mourners at the funeral of two brothers strangled to death by their dad that when the news broke “it was as if the earth had quaked and the house shook.”

The funeral mass took place at 1 pm in Co Carlow of brothers Eoghan and Ruairi Chada.

They were found murdered in the crashed Ford Focus car driven by their Northern Ireland born father Sanjeev near Westport on Monday.

The mass was held at St Lazieran’s Church in the boys’ home town of Ballinkillen.

The brothers were taken in two white coffins in separate hearses the short journey from their home to the church.

A guard of honour was provided by children from the local hurling, football and soccer clubs.

In memory of the boys’ lives, a number of gifts were brought to the altar, including a hurley and gaelic football, a toy tractor, a cook book, a golf club, a bicycle and a photograph.

In his homily, parish priest Father Declan Foley said the community of Ballinkillen has suffered a loss which will be felt long into the future.

He said the tragedy had stunned the whole community and particularly the parents of the brothers’ classmates.

Fr Foley said the two Chada boys had brought so much joy and happiness to their parents in their short few years.

“Every day the boys lived with joy and energy, and they loved their Mam and Dad deeply.

“Ruairi never saw himself as the little brother, and Eoghan could never say no to him,” Fr Foley said.

He told the congregation of the special bond the brothers shared, describing how although they had their own rooms, they would sleep together in one bed.

Brightly coloured balloons were released as the two brothers were laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Earlier, the boys father Sanjeev Chada was remanded in custody for two weeks after he appeared before Harristown Court in Co Roscommon.

The 43-year-old, with an address at Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown in Co Carlow, was charged last night with the murders of his sons Eoghan, 10, and Ruairi, 5, on 29 July.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at Skehanagh, near Ballintubber in Co Mayo.

When he was brought before Judge Conal Gibbons this morning, Mr Chada’s solicitor reiterated concerns he had about his client’s physical and mental wellbeing.

He applied for medical assessment to be carried out. The request was granted by Judge Gibbons.

Mr Chada will appear before the same court on Friday, August 16.