How do I tell my girl her dad’s been murdered?
Owen slain as daughter Harleigh holidays in Florida with godmum
LOVING dad Owen Hassan was found dying in the street after a brutal attack – but his little daughter still doesn’t know.
Harleigh, eight, is on holiday in Florida with her godmother. And the girl’s mum, Alison Price, is at a loss how to break the shattering news.
She said: “I don’t know how I am going to tell her.”
AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD girl will return from the holiday of a lifetime to discover her dad has been murdered.
Owen Hassan, 30, died after “an extremely violent assault”.
He was discovered with serious injuries in Greenview Street, in Glasgow’s Shawlands, on Wednesday night.
The father was rushed to the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but died a short time later.
Owen’s daughter Harleigh is in Florida on holiday with her godmother and isn’t due to return until next week.
The dead man was also a loving dad to a young son, Owen Jnr, with girlfriend Courtney Thomson.
At her home in Thornliebank, Harleigh’s mum – Owen’s devastated former partner Alison Price – described him as “such a good dad who never let his weans down”.
Despite splitting as a couple more than six years ago, Alison – who was one of the first to hear what had happened – told how she and Harleigh both adored Owen.
She said: “He was such a good dad and even though we’ve been separated all that time, he was still like a best friend to me.
“He never let me or Harleigh down and took her every weekend.
“She is in Florida right now but Owen has still been talking to her on Facetime since she’s been away.
“The last thing he said to her before she went was, ‘I love you ginge and I’ll see you when you get back’.
“I really don’t know how I am going to tell her what has happened to him.”
Alison’s friends posted messages of support on Facebook. Maureen Ferguson said: “So sorry Alison. I heard this morning. Thinking of you all.”
Owen Jnr’s mum Courtney posted pictures on Facebook of the three of them together, with a tribute saying: “Happier times, co-pilots you used to call us.
“My heart is broken. Every time I look at our boy’s face, it breaks all over again.
“He worshipped the ground you walked on and out of everyone, you were the one person who was always there for me. No matter what, I’ll never forget you, our boy’s hero
“I’ll make sure he knows all about how he was daddy’s best pal, rest in peace Owen Hassan, my one true love.”
In a later post, Courtney revealed she was still trying to find a way to break the harrowing news to her son. Friends of Courtney posted tributes on social media. Tina Dallas said: “So sorry to hear the sad news. To wee Owen as well, daddy’s wee boy, sending my love your way”.
Leeanne Hodge added: “Heart is breaking for you and the wee man, total daddy’s boy. Stay strong.”
A large area around the Old Stag Inn pub in Shawlands, including the derelict former Shawbridge Arcade, remained cordoned off by police yesterday as investigations continued into Owen’s death.
Shocked locals said the pub is run by his mother Ann Marie, who lives nearby.
A number of visibly upset people carrying bunches of flowers visited Owen’s mum’s house but said they didn’t want to comment.
But local residents spoke of their shock at hearing of the dad’s death.
Jim Laurie said: “This is a quiet street with mostly pensioners. I’ve lived here for 50 years and nothing like this has ever happened before.
“There are young ones who hang about but you get that everywhere. I don’t think Owen worked in the pub but he was always round about. I used to see him a lot with his daughter.”
A woman who lives in a high-rise block overlooking the street said: “I know his mum and I really feel for his family. There is just no respect for life any more.”
Another resident added: “It doesn’t matter where you live now, young guys are killing each other.
“I just don’t understand it. They end up doing life sentences. You are safer staying indoors nowadays.”
Detective Inspector Graham MacKellar of Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Teams (West), said: “This was an extremely violent assault and at this time we are trying to establish the exact circumstances and motive for such an attack.
“Officers are viewing CCTV and speaking to local people in the area in an attempt to gather more information.
“I appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Greenview Street around 10.20pm on Wednesday, November 7 and either witnessed Mr Hassan being assaulted, or perhaps saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area, to come forward.”
Every time I look at our boy’s face, my heart breaks COURTNEY THOMSON ON OWEN’S DEATH