Precious memories from Donegal have helped Andrew McGinley carry on amidst the grief of losing his three children.
Andrew recalled a special family visit to Donegal during an emotional interview on RTÉ Prime Time last night. The interview aired hours after his wife Deirdre Morley was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murders of her three children, Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3).
Happy memories and charity projects, he said, will give him a reason to go on.
The three children were great music fans and their first band was formed while they were visiting their grandmother in Donegal.
“They were chuffed to bits because I promised to buy them a couple of guitars,” Andrew recalled.
“They brought granny into the €2 shop. Myself and Carla were parking the car and we joined them and there were the two lads with two guitars and they were made out of cardboard with twine. Lucky enough there were other guitars for €10 and €15.”
Once the instruments were sourced, their band ‘The String Tigers’ was born.
The trio’s passion for music has inspired ‘As Darragh Did‘ – one of three projects that celebrate the children’s legacy.
“They had such short lives that, for me, these projects will give them a life,” Andrew said.
An annual fundraising concert is in the pipeline for As Darragh Did to encourage people to join projects in their communities. The fund recently supported the Donegal Town Basketball Club.
The other projects set up by Andrew in his children’s names are a YouTube channel for Conor called ‘Conor’s Clips’ and a colouring competition for Carla- www.snowmanforcarla.ie.
Andrew said he has many unanswered questions following the trail of his wife Deidre Morley. He is now calling on HSE Mental Health Services for an inclusive investigation into Deirdre’s diagnosis, treatment and medication prior to the tragedy.
“This will help us understand the insanity that took the lives of our beloved Conor, Darragh and Carla,” he said.
“I have to believe it was insanity. I can’t think of any other way for the kids to have died.”
Following today’s verdict, Andrew McGinley spoke to @MiriamOCal about moving forward after the loss of his children | #rtept | Read more: https://t.co/VZsLjXocRY pic.twitter.com/oa9sSy5A3d
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) May 20, 2021
