Mother of girls slain by father thanks community for support

THE mother of two little girls who died at the hands of their mentally-ill father has expressed her deep gratitude to those who supported her in the year since their tragic deaths.

Úna Butler, mother of 6-year-old Zoe and Ella, aged 2, said in a first anniversary memorial notice in the Irish Examiner, that she had been shown overwhelming support and kindness “at the most devastating and tragic time”.

Ms Butler, 41, lost her two children, as well as her husband John Butler, who took his own life in the wake of his children’s deaths at their home in Ballybraher, Ballycotton, on November 16, 2010.

An inquest heard Zoe had been strangled and Ella suffocated before Mr Butler, 43, an unemployed builder, crashed his own car at high speed and died.

Mr Butler had suffered from depression for a number of years and was under the care of mental health services from November 2009 until he was discharged in August 2010. Ms Butler has since called for a review of certain aspects of mental health care, saying it had never occurred to her that her husband, who was a good person and loved their daughters, could be capable of doing such a thing.

Ms Butler said she felt that spouses and partners of people with mental illness should be involved in their treatment and that the first concern of the mental health service should always be the welfare of any children involved in such relationships.

In her acknowledgement, Ms Butler paid tribute to “the many counsellors who visited our home and the community” as well as a variety of counselling services, such as Rainbows, a support group for those who are grieving, AdVIC, a support group for victims of homicide, and Dr Ella Arensman, director of research at the National Suicide Research Foundation.

She also paid tribute to the emergency services and gardaí; the pupils and teachers of Scoil Réalt na Mara in Ballycotton, the school attended by her daughter Zoe; and local priests, friends, neighbours, relatives and work colleagues.

Also on November 16, 2010, in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, 5-month-old Amy Hines and her 3-year-old brother Reece, their mother Sarah Hines and her friend Alicia Brock were found dead.

John Geary, aged 31, of Meadow Court, Newcastle West, but originally from Milford, Co Cork, is charged with their murder. Ms Hines was a former partner and Amy was his child. He is awaiting trial.