A devastated dad, whose three children were killed by his wife, is taking legal action against health chiefs to allege neglect in her care.
Andrew McGinley’s children - Conor, nine, Darragh, seven, and Carla, three - were all suffocated to death in January 2020 by Deirdre Morley - their mum and Andrew’s wife - who was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
Andrew, 54, told the Irish Mirror that he and Deirdre, 45, are each taking separate legal actions against the HSE.
He explained: “Deirdre filed hers on Wednesday and I lodged mine [yesterday], so they’re separate, but the legal teams are working closely.
“I have worked towards this for two years, trying to find out why Conor, Darragh, and Carla died.
“I know every graphic detail of how they died, but what I don’t know is the why.
“I got Deirdre’s medical records last September and found out new details about her care.”
After Deirdre’s trial, Andrew raised concerns about his wife’s care from the period before the tragedy and called for an investigation.
He told the Irish Mirror: “I appreciate that the HSE is carrying out its review, but they have not been able to help me to understand.
“It’s a difficult path. It’s very frustrating, it’s exasperating. It shouldn’t have happened.
“As far back as 2010, when Una Butler lost her daughters, she campaigned for change, but no change was made.
“Had Una Butler been heard, my children would be alive. I am now adding my voice to hers. In 10 years’ time, I hope none of your readers have to add their voice to mine.”
Una Butler’s husband John Butler, who had been treated for depression after losing his construction job, was aged 41 when he doused himself in petrol and deliberately crashed his car to kill himself after murdering children Ella (2) and Zoe (6) at the family home in Ballycotton, Co Cork, on November 16, 2010.
Andrew added: “I fear that this could happen again to another family. The world of psychiatry needs to change.
“Family inclusion would have saved the lives of Conor, Darragh, and Carla died. Confidentiality should have been breached in our case.
“It can be breached if clinicians think the patient is a danger to themselves or others.
“A lot of the detail that was heard in court about Deirdre feeling a danger to herself and feeling like a bad parent was heard by me for the first time.
“This is a process I would much rather not be taking, but I need to understand why my children died.
“This has been dragging on and on. One way or the other, I need to find out why my children died.”
Deirdre was on antidepressant drugs for two years before the tragedy and had received psychiatric treatment after expressing suicidal thoughts in 2019.
But the court heard during her trial that she concealed the true depth of her mental illness from Andrew.
It was Andrew who discovered their bodies in their Dublin family home after returning from work.
The court heard that Deirdre was convinced that her children had been damaged by her mental illness and had no life ahead of them.
She later expressed remorse but told gardai she was unable to prevent her actions at the time that she killed all three children.
Deirdre of Parson’s Court in Newcastle, Co Dublin, was ruled by the Central Criminal Court on May 20, 2020, to be not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and sent to the Central Mental Hospital.
Loving dad Andrew has since been campaigning for greater inclusion for families in the mental health treatment of loved ones.
He is being represented in the legal against the HSE by Callan Tansey Solicitors in Sligo while Deirdre has hired Keith Walsh Solicitors in Dublin.
A spokesperson for the HSE told the Irish Mirror that its independent review is “ongoing”.
She added: “The HSE cannot comment on individual cases when to do so might reveal information resulting in a breach of the ethical requirement on us to observe our duty of confidentiality.”
Andrew has set up charity As Darragh Did to celebrate his son’s love of music and sports like Gaelic football and hurling by funding groups, including the Donegal Down Syndrome Association.
Country music star Daniel O’Donnell is to headline a special concert for As Darragh Did on June 2, this year, in Newcastle Community Centre in Dublin with tickets sold on the asdarraghdid.ie website.
Andrew also set up YouTube channel Conor’s Clips for Conor and for Carla, he set up the snowmanforcarla.ie a colouring competition.
