{"id":94428,"date":"2025-07-26T15:45:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T15:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/94428\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T15:45:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T15:45:14","slug":"sophia-rose-farewelled-by-loved-ones-after-her-tragic-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/94428\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophia Rose farewelled by loved ones after her tragic death"},"content":{"rendered":"

By NICK WILSON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 02:58 EDT, 26 July 2025 | Updated: 02:59 EDT, 26 July 2025 <\/p>\n

A three-year-old girl who was stabbed to death by her mother has been farewelled by loved ones just two days before her fourth birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sophia Rose was killed by her mother, Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, on the front lawn of their home in Moore Park Beach, in Queensland, on May 26.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her younger siblings, aged one and two, were inside the home at the time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flanigan, 32, was charged with her daughter’s murder but died after being found unresponsive inside her Brisbane jail cell<\/a>.\u00a0She never entered a plea.<\/p>\n

Sophia’s funeral service was held in Victoria on Saturday, where her father Jai Ruane, 39, and her siblings have since relocated.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Instead of celebrating Sophia’s fourth birthday, we’re having a funeral,’ Mr Ruane told the Courier Mail<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘A funeral that shouldn’t be happening, as there is supposed to be systems in place to protect children but that clearly failed.’<\/p>\n

He said Sophia’s birthdays were always special occasions for the family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Sophia <\/p>\n

Sophia Rose, three, has been remembered as a bright and curious ‘girly-girl’ (pictured)<\/p>\n

\"Sophia's <\/p>\n

Sophia’s first birthday was celebrated with a lavish cake. She is pictured with father Jai Ruane<\/p>\n

Her first birthday involved a lavish cake, her second was celebrated twice, and her third was crowned with a fairy-themed party.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Now, this weekend’s going to be a big event, but it’s not a birthday,’ he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mr Ruane last saw his daughter two weeks before she died. His job as a fly-in-fly-out miner meant that his trips home to his family wee intermittent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He recalled holding her hand at their local zoo and a Hungry Jack’s lunch.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was an otherwise ordinary day, he said, but now one he will never forget.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mr Ruane still has a drawing the three-year-old made for him that day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Attendees at Sophia’s funeral were asked to wear a ‘touch of pink’ in honour of the little girl’s favourite colour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mr Ruane remembered his first-born as a real ‘girly-girl’ with a ‘strong character’ and a curious, social nature.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Lauren <\/p>\n

Lauren Ingrid Flanigan was charged with the murder of three-year-old Sophia (both pictured)<\/p>\n

The grieving dad has since relocated to Victoria with his two other children because of the ‘memories’ attached to the Queensland home.<\/p>\n

They now live closer to Mr Ruane’s siblings and their children.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Queensland Corrective Services said in June it would review how Flanigan died despite being assessed as high-risk and requiring close monitoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s understood she had been placed in a specialised unit for high-risk prisoners known as the Crisis Support Unit at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Asked about Ms Flanigan’s death, a spokesperson for Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia a report would be prepared for the coroner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘Due to this no further comment can be made at this time,’ they said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In September last year, Flanigan shared pictures of Sophia in a pink princess dress on Instagram with the caption ‘my divine babies’.<\/p>\n

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