I need to give my boys the best lives I can, says Erin’s mum
Lorraine Gallagher spent the weekend recalling the life of her youngest daughter Erin, aged 13, who took her own life on Oct 27 last year.
She will have to do it all again in just six weeks time to remember the life of her second daughter Shannon, aged 15, who also took her life last November.
Lorraine revealed that she wants her sons Seán James, 6, and Lennon, six months, to know all about their older sisters.
“Seán James remembers his sisters and knows his two sisters are in heaven. Obviously Lennon never met his sisters but I want to tell him everything about them.
“I keep all the cuttings from the newspapers about their story. I want him to know all about them and what they went through.
“I don’t want to hide anything from them. I think they have a right to know when the time is right.”
Lorraine and her family attended a first anniversary Mass at St Mary’s Church in Stranorlar, Co Donegal for Erin over the weekend. They later laid flowers at her grave and remembered the special times they had together.
They will attend the same church in six weeks time to remember Erin’s older sister Shannon who took her life because she couldn’t cope with the loss of her younger sibling.
Lorraine says that she remembers her girls every hour of every day, but knows she has to carry on for her boys.
“My doctor told me to live for the living and not to live for the dead. I will never forget my girls.
“But I need to carry on and give my boys the best lives I can.
“That’s what Erin and Shannon would have wanted more than anything else. I will do whatever I can do make that happen,” she said.
