Mother of girls killed by father in mental health appeal

A mother whose two daughters were killed by their father is campaigning to have spouses involved in the treatment of mentally ill people in the hope of preventing a repeat of the horror which befell her family.

In Nov 2010, John Butler killed his daughters, Ella, 2, and Zoe, 6, at the family home in Ballycotton, Co Cork. A short time later he died after dousing his car in petrol and driving it into a ditch.

The children’s mother, Una Butler, has made a submission to an expert group reviewing the Mental Health Act 2001 in an effort to have partners and spouses involved in the treatment of the mentally ill.