‘THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY DAUGHTER’
A MUM whose daughter was drowned by her father has thanked the “guardian angels” who helped her bring her murdered child home.
Rebecca Saunders opened her heart about the tragedy on the one-year anniversary of her little girl’s remains being exhumed and taken to the US.
Clarissa Mccarthy was killed by her father Martin Mccarthy, 50, who also took his own life at Audley Cove near Ballydehob in Co Cork on March 5, 2013.
The toddler was buried with her dad, right, in Schull but American-born Rebecca had her exhumed in June 2022 following a lengthy campaign.
Marking a year since being reunited with her first born Rebecca said: “One year ago today myself and a handful of genuinely tenderhearted people woke up before the sun rose over Schull Harbour.
“We didn’t know how straightforward our task would be but we knew we wouldn’t stop until we achieved what we set out to do.
“Later that afternoon, Clarissa was expertly separated from the person who murdered her – she was finally taken from the person who took her.”
Writing on Twitter she continued: “Exhuming Clarissa was the impossible task that, once finished, made me believe in miracles.
“Being reunited with her was akin to witnessing mountains being moved.
“Losing Clarissa was traumatic enough. Having to live with the choice I was forced into making less than 48 hours later made it all the more horrendous. “Eight years later, I was given not only hope but tremendous help from hundreds of people, most of whom I’ve never met.”
In September of last year a memorial plaque to threeyear-old Clarissa was erected at the spot she loved, where she later lost her life.
It reads: ‘Clarissa Jean Mccarthy. Never truly gone. Always in our heart. May 22, 2009 to March 5, 2013.’
Rebecca, who was 26 when her little girl was killed, described it as an “awful mistake” to have Clarissa buried with her late husband.
In June 2022 her remains were taken to a crematorium in Ringaskiddy and Rebecca subsequently took her ashes home with her to Houston, Texas.
She wrote: “Thank you, to everyone who helped bring Clarissa closer to me.
“Special thank you to my guardian angels who helped light my path when things seemed hopeless.
“I will always be indebted to your kindness.”
Clarissa was finally separated from the person who took her REBECCA SAUNDERS ON GETTING HER CHILD BACK