CORK County Council has confirmed they are making plans to demolish the house where a murder-suicide took place out of respect for the heartbroken mother of the victims.
Helen O’Driscoll’s 21-year-old son Jonathan took his own life shortly after stabbing his brothers, nine-year-old twin sons, Thomas and Paddy.
The Charleville woman say she wouldn’t be able to move forward until the house where her sons’ tragedy unfolded is destroyed.
In an article, first published in the Evening Echo last week, she said: “It was a tradition in the travelling community that you burned the barrel top wagon that the person died in. Thomas (Helen’s husband) would never have done that with the house. He wanted to do things the right way, the legal way, but four years later it is still standing.”
Cork County Council has issued a statement expressing their commitment to carrying out the demolition work.
“Cork County Council remains committed to engaging with the O’Driscoll family with a view to facilitating the demolition of the dwelling,” it read.
Helen said she was delighted with the news but added that a date for the demolition needs to be secured.
“I am over the moon with the council’s efforts and appreciate this so much. However, we were told four years ago that the house would be demolished, so having a date would mean so much to us.”
Helen’s son Jonathan had been suffering from severe mental health issues leading up to the murder-suicide. Helen urged those with similar difficulties to seek help.
“For the month that’s in it, National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, I’m asking anyone going through this to seek help. I will continue to do that for as long as I live, as mental illness is what killed my boys.”
Helen stated her reasons for wanting to see the house demolished.
“It needs to be knocked so my boys can go to God. My kids died innocent but their souls are trapped in there.”
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