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A young mother and her newborn baby who were allegedly murdered in a shocking house fire have been farewelled in a touching service.
Abigail Forrest, 19, Inda Sohal, 28, and their baby daughter Ivy were killed in the blaze at Point Cook in Melbourne south-west on December 2.
The pair were farewelled at St Mary of the Angels Basilica in Geelong, south of Melbourne, on Thursday.
Baby Ivy did not even have a chance to be baptised before her life was so cruelly cut short.
Baby Ivy was just three weeks old when she was killed in a Point Cook house fire
The bodies of Abbey Forrest, 19, Inda Sohal, 25, and their baby daughter Ivy (pictured together) were found inside a Point Cook townhouse after a blaze tore through the property
Alan Forrest and family members of Abigail and Ivy Forrest congregate at St Mary’s in Geelong on Thursday
Instead, her tiny coffin was draped in the baptism robe of her own mother Abbey, who had gone to school at St Ignatius in Geelong just down the road.
Baby Ivy was just about to turn three weeks old when she perished with her parents.
Her grandfather Alan Forrest – Abbey’s father – bravely paid tribute to the pair.
He choked back tears as he spoke of the fun loving and generous Tomboy his daughter was.
Mr Forrest said his family would not get a chance to gather at his daughter’s 21st birthday and he would not be able to provide a speech as father of the bride.
‘This is one speech that I must make take the honour of Abbey, Ivy and Indy,’ he said.
The shattered parent described his daughter’s love of horses and her hopes of one day becoming a paramedic.
‘She was a generous kid,’ he said. ‘She was always grateful to and respected all of her teachers.’
Mr Forrest described his daughter as ‘no shrinking violet’, who always stood for what she believed in.
He told the congregation Abbey had recently bonded further with her mother over the ‘shared understanding of motherhood’.
‘Little Ivy was the delight of Abbey and Indy’s lives,’ Mr Forrest said. ‘Now that dream has been cut short. Remember them, speak their names so that they are not forgotten and wrap our arms around us and our deep loss.’
A photo tribute showed a young woman who was practically inseparable from her sister Emily, who had paid tribute to her sister earlier.
Photos of a happy childhood, of horse riding and family outings.
Emily Forrest said words could not explain what her sister meant to her and her family.
Abigail (centre) with parents Alan and Elizabeth
Abigail and baby Ivy were killed in a Point Cook house fire
Baby Ivy was only three weeks old when she perished in a fire with her parents
‘Abbey did everything for our son’ she said.
‘She was a beautiful young lady who had her whole life ahead of her an I’m just so glad she found Indy.
‘They were inseparable and you could just see how much they adored each other. Maybe they will all be together forever now.
‘She was a sister, an in-law, a daughter and an auntie, partner, a mother a friend and an absolute blessing to this earth. May she hold her baby Ivy and they never be apart. ‘
As many people allowed into the church gathered to send-off the pair, with more than 100 others viewing a live stream.
Father James Clarke did his best to sooth the suffering felt by those effected in the tragedy.
But he acknowledged most would probably spend their entire lives failing to find sense in the tragedy.
A group of Abbey’s former school friends donned their class of 2019 jackets as they performed a guard of honour for the pair’s final journey.
Daily Mail Australia revealed last week their alleged killer had no disagreement whatsoever with the young parents – who were innocent victims of an alleged revenge attack on their housemate.
The Forrest family had celebrated the birth of baby Ivy just weeks ago
Abbey and baby Ivy died in a horrific house fire
Sisters Emily and Abbey Forrest were inseparable
Jenny Hayes, 46, was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and arson causing death after allegedly deliberately starting the fire.
It is understood police are investigating whether it was in fact an alleged fight over sexual services that led to the fatal fire.
Detectives will allege Hayes used an accelerant to douse the stairwell of the Point Cook home before setting it alight.
A source has told Daily Mail Australia that just hours earlier, she had allegedly argued with the couple’s friend, who had been ‘couch surfing’ at the property.
The 28-year old male and close friend of Mr Sohal had allegedly kicked her out of the property before heading out for the night.
He was not even home when police allege Hayes got into the home and set her deadly trap.
‘They had no chance of escape. They were trapped,’ the source said.
Mr Sohal’s parents, who live in India, are planning to hold a traditional ceremony for their son in his homeland.
Baby Ivy perished in the deadly house fire along with her mum Abbey and father
Police tape remains across the gutted remains of the Point Cook property where three people died on Wednesday
Abbey Forrest, 19, Inda Sohal, 25, and their baby daughter Ivy had no chance of escaping the inferno amid allegations the only exit had been torched
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