Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
LET ME REST WITH MY ONLY SON
Sick mum’s anger as ex halts her funeral plans
A seriously ill woman whose son was stabbed to death claims her “heartless” ex-husband has refused her permission to be buried alongside her beloved boy – in the plot she paid for.
Eleanor Hanna’s only child Iain O’Brien, 39, was slain by his former girlfriend’s new lover during a fatal fight at a Coatbridge property in 2012.
Iain’s violent death and the e subsequent court case were e widely reported and his killer Paul Hadden was sentenced to seven years in prison, on appeal, after being found guilty of culpable homicide.
The tragic 39-year-old was laid to rest in Coltswood cemetery.
But now his devastated mum says she has just discovered her er former spouse John O’Brien “deceitfully” put the plot in his name when making the funeral arrangements – despite telling the funeral directors to send the bill of almost £3000 to her.
And despite her pleas for him to put the title deeds in her name, Eleanor says O’Brien has “made it clear” she won’t be buried beside her son.
A woman whose son was stabbed to death has slammed her “heartless” ex-husband over claims he has refused her permission to be buried alongside her tragic only child.
Eleanor Hanna’s son Iain O’Brien, 39, was slain by his former girlfriend’s new lover during a violent fight at a Coatbridge property in 2012.
Paul Hadden was sentenced to seven years in prison on appeal after a jury found him guilty of culpable homicide.
Iain was laid to rest in Coltswood cemetery and the plot was paid for by Eleanor.
The 68- year- old says her former spouse John O’Brien made the funeral arrangements because she was too griefstricken at having lost her son in such a violent manner.
And Eleanor says O’Brien “deceitfully” put the plot in his name – despite telling the funeral directors to send the bill of almost £3000 to her.
After cashing an insurance policy to cover the bill, Eleanor “naturally assumed” she was in control of the plot – an assumption she maintained until beginning to plan her own funeral last month.
Now, having learned from the funeral director that’s not the case, Eleanor is devastated at the prospect of not being buried beside her only child – and insists her ex-husband won’t release the title deeds to avoid paying for his own burial space.
Eleanor told the Advertiser: “This has ripped me apart. It’s taken my soul – I have nothing left.
“I wish John O’Brien nothing but the worst for what he’s done.
“Believing I’d spend eternity next to Iain gave me some comfort after all I’ve been through. Now that’s been completely ripped away from me. I’m not interested in anything any more – I wanted to enjoy my final days but this bombshell has ruined that.
“John O’Brien didn’t play a big part in Iain’s life but my son and I were like glue.
“He loved to travel and spent eight years in San Francisco as well as time in Australia, Thailand and Spain.
“Memorial services were held all around the world after Iain died and famous comedian Robin Williams even attended one in San Francisco after Iain, who was a joiner, carried out work at his home.
“I know that Iain would be absolutely disgusted with the way his dad has behaved.”
Eleanor insists her former husband refuses to sign the plot deeds over to her so he doesn’t have to pay for a separate resting place for himself.
“I’m convinced of it,” she continued. “But he has a new family now with a wife and a daughter. Iain was my only son – that’s why this is so important to me.
“I phoned him to discuss it and he made it clear that I wouldn’t be buried there as it’s for him and his ‘family’.”
Eleanor, who lives in Stenhousemuir, says doctors have told her she is a “ticking timebomb” because of serious heart and lung problems.
She has also suffered three strokes and has been advised she’d be unlikely to survive another.
Eleanor said: “Nobody knows when they’re going to die but I’ve been told I could go at any moment.
“I’m on red alert, that’s why I wanted everything in place.
“Another stroke or further heart failure and that’ll be it.
“The thought of dying and not being buried with Iain almost kills me in itself.”
John O’Brien declined to comment when we contacted him.