Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Jason could make my wee brother’s dreams come true if they met
Caring Damien plea to singer Derulo over mega-fan Jack
A BELFAST man is appealing to American R&B star Jason Derulo to make his brother’s life complete – by meeting him when he comes to town.
Damien Mccrea’s brother Jack, who has Down’s syndrome, has idolised Derulo since seeing him in action five years ago.
So for Jack’s 20th birthday in November Damien and his wife Nichola bought tickets for the March 21 concert at SSE Arena.
Now they are hoping Derulo will help the music and dance obsessed teenager make memories he will never forget.
Damien said: “My wife Nichola took him to see Jason Derulo a long time ago and ever since Jack has been really big into him.
“He really does design his image after him. He gets fixated on things and Jason always stuck. He can’t get enough of him.
“We thought it was a phase, but it continues on.
“We would really love him to meet him – I’d pay for it.
“Even if he was walking past and shook his hand, he would talk about it for 20 years.”
Damien said he had been trying to keep the gig a surprise for Jack, but after their mum “let it slip” the couple had to come clean.
Since then, they said it’s all the 19-year-old talks about.
The doting brother added: “We told him a couple of days ago.
“If I phone him or I’m speaking to him, you can’t have a conversation without talking about it.
“He was over the moon and he keeps sending us raps – he can’t type messages but he can send voice messages and he sends videos to my wife randomly.”
As well as making up his own riffs, Jacko – as he’s fondly known by family – loves dancing.
Damien added: “If you are out at a family function, he is the centre of attention.
“If you said to him to sing a song he just freestyles. He loves breakdancing as well.
“He brightens up everyone’s day.” Since Damien set Jack up with a Facebook account, he’s always uploading videos of himself singing and dancing, so they keep an eye on the mischievous “womaniser”. He added: “He’s a ladies’ man.” Damien said he and his brother sometimes head out on the town, and that though he does not like alcohol, he “loves the notion of drinking”.
But he said his brother’s life hasn’t always been so happy.
The proud sibling explained: “He’s lived through a lot.
“In his short 19 years Jack has had a number of major operations on his heart and neck.
“He’s had a difficult life but he doesn’t let it get him down.
“He just brings joy wherever he goes.”
Appealing to Jason Derulo to consider his request, he said: “Even if Jack was in the crowd and you walked past – that’d be him for life.”