Heartbroken father Andrew McGinley has revealed he's made a pledge to do his utmost to enjoy Christmas this year - because it's what his three late children would have wanted.
Andrew, whose children Conor, nine, Darragh, seven, and Carla, three, were killed by their mother Deirde Morley in January 2020, admitted he has found the past two Christmases particularly harrowing.
But the grieving 55-year-old said he's determined to "reclaim" Christmas this year because it was always his children's favourite time of the year.
READ MORE: Andrew McGinley divorcing wife who killed his kids but fears losing family home
The Dubliner, whose wife was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murders of her three children, admitted the passage of time has done little to heal his never-ending sense of anguish.
But he said that keeping as busy and as positive as possible - not least with the three legacy projects he set up in his children's names after their deaths - have been key in helping him deal with his pain.
And he said his decision to try and embrace the festive season this year as much as possible is the best way to honour his children's memories.
He said: "My children all loved Christmas, as did I. It was a very special and fun time of the year in our household, a wonderful family occasion that was always full of laughter and fun.
"But the past two Christmases have been very, very different, and I've just felt lost. The hardest thing in the world is to stand at the graves of your children on Christmas morning.
"I'll be visiting their graves again on Christmas morning this year, and that'll never change, because I'll never stop talking to them. Christmas is a very poignant time for me, but it was also a time of year that the children adored, and so I'm going to reclaim it for them. I'm doing things I wouldn't have done last year, like accepting any invitations I get from people to events and get-togethers, and getting out there and mixing more. I'm just trying my best to enjoy it."
Andrew said the three legacy projects he established in his children's names - namely, 'Conor's Clips', 'As Darragh Did' and 'Snowman for Carla' - continue to go from strength to strength.
He added: "The projects really help me keep going. I don't believe time is a healer, because things don't get easier. Your grief never leaves you, but you learn to handle it better.
"It's important I keep going and keep busy. I owe that to my three magnificent children."
READ NEXT:
- Ireland Christmas weather ‘roller-coaster’ amid new ‘Beast from the East’ threat
- JP McManus on his racing empire, gambling and taking every day as it comes
- Ryanair tells passengers 'find your own way home' after 480km diversion due to snow
- Irish farmers can bid for date with stunning blonde at cattle mart auction
- Operation Transformation star quits show as RTE announce replacement for new season return
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
