A heartbroken daughter whose dad took his own life days before Christmas after his benefits were stopped has spoken of his thoughtfulness, as he ordered presents for his grandchildren before his death.
Kevin Dooley ordered walkie-talkies for his daughter Leanne and her eldest child Cara. Leanne believes the Christmas presents were Kevin's was his way of keeping in touch after he died.
The father-of-three was 48 when he took his own life after his benefits were stopped, in December 2018. Sadly, Leanne discovered his body, and had seen him just hours earlier that day, the Mirror reports.
Leanne bravely went on to celebrate Christmas for the sake of her young daughters - and now remembers her father each Christmas with a tribute bauble on her tree.
Leanne met the Shadow Home Secretary in Parliament last month to plead for changes in the way that disabled claimants are treated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Leanne, mum to Cara, 12, Scarlet, 10 and Willow, two, said: "On the day my dad hung himself, I visited him, but I was in a real hurry because it was coming up to Christmas and I'd been at work and was rushing to collect my children from school.
"I didn't hug him or tell him I loved him. That will haunt me always. Hours later I went back to discover he had hung himself. I hope everyone who reads my story hugs the people they love this Christmas. You never know when you will run out of time.
"After Dad died, I discovered he had ordered presents for my daughters, walkie-talkies, to be delivered to my house. I like to think it was his way of keeping in touch from heaven."
Kevin was a devoted father and a fit and healthy man when he was younger. He was a painter and decorator and great at DIY.
Leanne, who lives in Leeds, said: "When I was little, my dad was lots of fun. He had always struggled with depression but did his best to hide it. When I got my own place he laid new floors and did all my DIY. When my kids came along, he idolised them. He looked after them whilst I worked, and he spoiled them with treats and presents."
Kevin began to suffer with COPD in 2001, and was diagnosed with a blood disorder. His illness made him to unwell to work, and he relied on benefits and later struggled with severe depression.
"Dad really struggled with his health," said Leanne. "He had several blackouts and hospital admissions. I worked in a pharmacy so I helped with his medication. I visited him every day. He loved seeing my children, he really lived for his granddaughters."
Then in July 2018, Kevin was notified by the DWP that he would have to attend a fit to work assessment. Kevin believed that the appointment was simply routine, but he was told at his benefits would be stopped.
Leanne said: "Dad rang me at work and he was crying and panicking. I had never heard him in such a state. I told him that we'd appeal, I couldn't see how anyone could declare him fit to work. I felt sure it was a mistake."
However, Kevin's appeal was refused and his family began making preparations to go to a tribunal to appeal the decision.
Leanne said: "I was planning to give him some money to keep him going. But he didn't want charity; he felt ashamed. He wanted to be able to buy treats for his grandkids and to feed and look after himself, with his own money.
"By now, it was just a week before Christmas and so I was really busy with nativity plays and Christmas shopping. I was working and also looking after my dad and my daughters.
"On December 17 I popped in to see Dad to collect all the DWP paperwork to prepare for his tribunal. He was really down but I was in a big rush to collect the girls from school, I didn't hug him or tell him how much I loved him. I will always regret that."
That same evening, Leanne received a text saying "I love you" from her father. She rushed to his home and found him dead. Kevin was taken to hospital by ambulance but passed away.
Leanne says: "I was absolutely heartbroken. Despite his depression, I hadn't seen it coming. He had ordered walkie talkies for my daughters which arrived a few days before Christmas. I like to think it's his way of keeping in touch.
"I had to go ahead with Christmas, for my daughters. We got a bauble with Dad's photo on and kept his ashes at home. The tragedy was, I'd planned to give him a lump sum of cash for Christmas, but of course he never got to know that."
Kevin's death was recorded as suicide. His grieving family struggled with the loss - then in 2020 Leanne discovered she was pregnant with her third child, Willow.
She said: "I believe Willow was sent by my dad to make us all smile again. She was a complete surprise but she really gave us a new focus."
Leanne is now campaigning for benefit claimants to be treated with more compassion and respect by the DWP. She went to Parliament Last month with the Rethink group, to lobby MPs and meet the Shadow Home Secretary.
She said: "My dad had a meeting with a total stranger at the DWP who told him to touch his toes and then decided to take away his only source of income. There is no way he was fit to work and it was the loss of his benefits that drove him to suicide.
"I want to make sure that no other family suffers as we have. We miss him so much, especially at Christmas."
A DWP spokesperson said: "This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the family of Mr Dooley. We want to ensure that people with disabilities and health conditions get the support they're entitled to and and decisions are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist.
"Mr Dooley continued to receive benefits during his appeal."
If you’re struggling with mental health problems or suicidal thoughts you can visit www.fams.chat or call the helpline on 07736 326062.
Help is also available at www.breathingspace.scot or by calling 0800 83 85 87.
The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day on 116 123.
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