Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I’ll battle every day to keep their memory alive...
Andrew invites Daily Mirror into the house where world fell apart
HEARTBROKEN dad Andrew Mcginley played his sons’ favourite movies and showed mourners his little girl “Carla’s Corner” – as he promised to “battle every day” to keep their memory alive.
In the home where his precious three children took their last breaths last Friday, he pointed to a poignant collection of toys assembled in the living room.
Close by were recent drawings by Conor, nine, and seven-year-old Darragh.
He had laid out their blue and white football boots, the ones they had pulled on so many times before he proudly cheered them from the sidelines... now, never to be worn again.
Their Lego creations took pride of place on a coffee table.
In recollections every parent can relate to, he told how the schoolboys and their three-year-old sister didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
And so Carla’s Corner was created to give her some space from her big brothers.
Four days after his life was shattered when their bodies were found in separate rooms of the family home, he invited the Daily Mirror to the house in Parsons Court in Newcastle, West Dublin.
And through the immense pain and trauma of a loss he is struggling to comprehend, he bravely told us yesterday afternoon: “Today we want just happy memories here.”
Andrew showed us the heartbreaking note he wrote Conor, Darragh and Carla, asking us to publish his handwritten version.
He told us: “I want people to see this letter, so they know that these words come from my heart.”
On company notepaper, he wrote: “To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness.”
He also released a new family portrait – a beaming image of him with his only daughter on his lap and his smiling boys.
To their right is the first image of paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, the children’s mum, who was being treated at Dublin’s Tallaght Hospital before being arrested last night. Irish police, who have launched a triple murder probe, will speak to her about the chain of events which led to the children’s deaths.
In that same house, where they should have felt their safest but spent their final moments, Andrew pointed to the TV – The Avengers movie played, just like it would have were Conor and Darragh there.
The catering firm worker said: “This is where the boys would be.
“We have the television on today. They liked The Avengers and this is all of their stuff.”
Recent colourful drawings by the boys were propped up against a stack of their favourite books. David Walliams and other popular kids’ fiction authors were piled together beside a handful of Avengers and Lego Movie DVDS. Walliams’ Gangsta Granny was among the famous titles his little ones had read.
A pair of football boots were also there to symbolise his sons’ involvement with Rathcoole Boys’ FC.
The club is next to Happy Feet Early Learning Centre, the pre-school their little sister attended.
The boys were huge Lego fans and an assortment of models they had built were proudly on display.
Andrew fondly recalled how the kids would play together, but sometimes the older two would need some “boy time”.
Andrew said: “In the other room we have Carla’s Corner. But this is where the boys would have come to get away from her.”
Crowd of mourners who passed through the doors were shown a collection of the children’s favourite toys to capture each of their unique personalities.
It reminded everyone how they spent their precious childhoods before they were tragically cut short.
In the handwritten note he gave to us, he told how his children had “beautiful futures” ahead of them – but now the future had become “our enemy”.
He said: “Every breath is a struggle.” Despite being immersed in his own heartbreak, he reached out to every parent and urged them to never take a moment with their children for granted.
He added: “There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish.
“Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive.”
The letter was written on notepaper from his employer, catering
There are no words.
There’s only devastation, grief and anguish
ANDREW MCGINLEY YESTERDAY
firm Sodexo. Andrew’s brother Kieran said the family sincerely appreciates the support his loyal colleagues have shown them in recent days.
The children’s mother was found in a disorientated state on the street in Parsons Court after officers were called at 7.45pm last Friday.
A full toxicology report on the children’s bodies is also due soon after postmortems were carried out.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people gathered in Newcastle last night for a candlelit vigil in honour of the three tragic siblings.
Andrew spoke about finding great comfort in being back home amongst his kids’ possessions, adding: “Thank you all for coming here tonight, thank you for your love, your compassion, your support and your friendship.
“Conor, Darragh and Carla were loved and adored by each and every one of us. They had a big, beautiful and bright future ahead of them.
“Thank you for every note, every text, every letter and every card.
“Thank you to anyone who has taken time to send their condolences and to everyone that signed books of condolences. I will make sure to read every one of them.
“I am finding great comfort being at home amongst the toys and books that brought Conor, Darragh and Carla such joy and I’m finding great comfort being amongst you all. Thank you.”