Family’s devastation after ‘devoted mum’ killed by friend in car tragedy
THE family of a retired headteacher killed by a close friend who hit her with a car have paid tribute to their “devoted mother” whose death “turned their world upside down”.
Barbara Calligan, 62, died on March 15 last year after she was pulled under the wheels of a Subaru Impreza driven by Carol White, 73.
Both women had attended an art class at the Abergavenny Community Enterprise building in Hillcrest Road, and Mrs Calligan was directing White out of a parking space when the car shot back at speed and reversed into Mrs Calligan and a wall.
Moments later, the car shot forward again and dragged Mrs Calligan under the wheels and into a parked car. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Tuesday, White was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months at a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
In a victim personal statement read out to the court, Mrs Calligan’s son Andrew said he had considered taken his own life following the death of his mother.
He said: “I am struggling to come to terms with the loss of my mother, it’s the worst nightmare of any child.”
Prosecutor Jason Howells said Mr Calligan described the “devastation” about the loss he feels.
He described his family as close, despite his parents separating, and said they were a family with “no bitterness”.
He added: “Even at my age, my mother made me feel like nothing bad would happen if she was around but her death has left me in turmoil.
“When I returned to my home in America following my mother’s death, I was unable to settle and I
returned to the UK to be close to her, I felt like I had lost a connection with her because I could not longer hear her voice, Facetime her or look forward to visiting her. All is left now is a place in a pretty churchyard where I can go and sit with her.”
Mr Calligan described what it was like when he first returned to his mother’s home following her death.
He said: “It was if my mum was going to return to the house, there a dirty coffee cup which had been left to be cleaned later on.
“It was like she had popped out to see a neighbour. The last time I saw her home it was empty and could no longer be called a home.”
Mr Calligan was first told about his mother’s death when his father called him.
He said: “I thought he was mistaken and it has taken a lot of time to come to the realisation my mother had passed. I had to make a telephone call to my sister who confirmed the sad news.
“Since then I have been suffering anxiety attacks, difficulties in breathing, and feelings of abandonment. My life and world has been turned upside down. My mother was not only a person I was close to, but my friends were as well. She was kind, fun, uplifting and she had an energy and vibe that crossed generations.
“I have had difficulty in not having closure or being able to say goodbye to her. I have feelings of heartbreak, depression, trauma and difficulties in sleeping talking and functioning.
“She was my anchor in times of trouble and uncertainty, I’ve lost my torch and compass and the world became a dark and sorry place. I even considered taking my own life.”
Mrs Calligan, who was born in Blaina married her husband David in 1976 and in 1984 gave birth to her daughter Isabelle. They moved to Ross-on-Wye in 1987 where her son Andrew was born and the family moved to Texas in 1989 for David’s work.
She became a real estate agent, but was described by Isabelle Calligan as a “devoted mother” who saw the importance in family life.
After she and David separated in 1997, Mrs Calligan returned to the UK with her children and became a teacher in languages at Brynmawr Comprehensive School, later becoming a headteacher.
In a statement to the court, Ms Calligan said her mother retired in her 40s due to ill health, but lived a full and busy life.
She said: “My mother had a large network of friends and lived a busy life travelling throughout Europe and further afield. She maintained a strong and close relationship with me and Andrew when we returned to America and she would come to visit us and go on road trip adventures which she loved.
“She took great pride in her garden and went to pub quizzes and art classes. She specialised in water colours and wax painting.
“Out of everything, she was most proud of being a mother to me and Andrew. She was intelligent, hilarious and she loved to laugh.
“On the day of the collision, I spoke to my mother by text message and was looking forward to seeing her in April having arranged to visit her. She was very happy at art class and the last picture she did that day was of a sunset.”