A three-year-old girl who was tragically killed by her mother has been laid to rest by loved ones, just two days before what would have been her fourth birthday.
Sophia Rose lost her life on May 26, when her mother, Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, fatally stabbed her on the front lawn of their Moore Park Beach home in Queensland.
At the time of the incident, Sophia’s younger siblings, aged one and two, were inside the house.
Flanigan, 32, was charged with her daughter’s murder but was later found unresponsive in her cell at a Brisbane prison and subsequently died. She never entered a plea.
Sophia’s funeral was held on Saturday in Victoria, where her father, Jai Ruane, 39, and her siblings have since moved.
“Instead of celebrating Sophia’s fourth birthday, we’re holding a funeral,” Mr. Ruane told the Courier Mail.
“A funeral that should never have happened — there are supposed to be systems in place to protect children, but those systems clearly failed.”
He shared that Sophia’s birthdays had always been cherished family celebrations.
Sophia’s first birthday was marked with a lavish cake and joyful celebration. She is pictured here with her father, Jai Ruane.
Sophia’s first birthday featured a lavish cake, her second was celebrated twice, and her third was marked with a magical fairy-themed party.
“This weekend will be a big event too — but it’s not a birthday,” Mr. Ruane said.
He last saw his daughter two weeks before her death. As a fly-in, fly-out miner, his visits home were limited.
He recalled one of their final days together: holding her hand during a visit to the local zoo, followed by lunch at Hungry Jack’s.
“It was just an ordinary day,” he said. “But now, it’s a day I’ll never forget.”
Mr. Ruane still holds onto a drawing Sophia made for him that day — a keepsake he now treasures.
Mourners at Sophia’s funeral were asked to wear a ‘touch of pink’ to honour her favourite colour.
Mr. Ruane described his firstborn as a true ‘girly-girl’ with a strong spirit, boundless curiosity, and a naturally social nature.
Lauren Ingrid Flanigan was charged with the murder of her three-year-old daughter, Sophia (pictured together).
Following the tragedy, the grieving father relocated to Victoria with his two other children, citing the painful memories tied to their former home in Queensland.
The family now lives closer to Mr. Ruane’s siblings and their children, providing a stronger support network.
In June, Queensland Corrective Services announced a review into how Lauren Ingrid Flanigan died, despite being classified as high-risk and placed under close supervision.
She had reportedly been housed in the Crisis Support Unit, a specialised section for high-risk inmates at the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.
When asked about Flanigan’s death, a Queensland Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that a report was being prepared for the coroner.
“No further comment can be made at this time,” the spokesperson added.
In September of the previous year, Flanigan had posted photos of Sophia dressed in a pink princess outfit on Instagram, captioning them: “my divine babies.”
