Patsy Aust: mourners hear how Bangor woman's murder caused "deep shock and heartache" in community

The funeral of murder victim Patricia Aust took place today (Thursday) in Bangor.

The 81-year-old retired teacher and grandmother was found dead in a house in the Hawthorne Court area of the Co Down resort on June 2.

Ms Aust's brother, 85-year-old Jim Moore of Clandeboye Place in Bangor, has appeared in court charged with her murder

A minister at the funeral told mourners that her death had caused "deep shock and heartache" across her local community.

The Rev Mark Johnston told a service of thanksgiving at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Bangor that retired teacher and grandmother Ms Aust, known as Patsy, loved children.

Delivering his tribute to Ms Aust at the service, Mr Johnston made several references to her close bond with her brother.

He told mourners that Ms Aust had been a Sunday school teacher in the same church in which he was speaking.

He said she was born Patricia Ann Moore, grew up in Bangor and later trained to be a teacher.

He said: "She loved to travel, and taught in a secondary school in Malta, and lived in Palma, Majorca, where (her son) Garreth was born."

Mr Johnston said she later returned to Northern Ireland and became vice principal of the Lindsey School, attached to Forster Green Hospital.

He said: "Patsy loved children and young people, and especially had a soft spot for children with additional needs.

"She poured her heart and soul into them, seeing that they had every opportunity to grow and flourish."

He said: "Patsy's focus in life was raising her son, and in recent years, loving and helping to raise her beloved grandson Brody.

"She gave her all, along with her family, to make sure that Garreth and Brody had everything they needed.

"She lived by that golden rule of Jesus 'Do to others what you would have them do onto you' and sought to instil these values of sacrificial love and kindness, respect and gentleness, within the hearts of Garreth and Brody."

Rev Johnston said Ms Aust's world was shattered when her son died suddenly last year. He said she was "crippled with grief."

He said that her passing had caused "deep shock and heartache to so many across the community."

"For we will miss Patsy so very much, and have benefited greatly from her warmth, her kindness and love, her compassion for others, especially children, and her desire to keep going with deep resilience and fortitude," he said.

A private committal service took place later.