Mother of slain boys ‘feels their presence’

Kathleen Chada has said she feels the presence of her murdered boys, Eoghan and Ruairi, with her, particularly in her own home.

She said she was “lucky” to have such happy memories of them and they were keeping her going.

She said she has an “incredibly strong and supportive family” and an “incredible community” — but would “give it all up in a heartbeat” if she could get her boys back.

On the day after her husband Sanjeev Chada was convicted of murdering their children, Eoghan, aged 10, and Ruairi, aged five, on July 29 last year, Ms Chada said the pain will not go away.

In a 25-minute interview on the Pat Kenny Show yesterday, she said: “I talk about a long road ahead and, to be honest, I don’t think I’ve even reached the road yet. But I have a strong faith and that has gotten me so far and I do firmly believe the boys are with me and are with me every step of the way on this.

“I have a very strong sense of them around me and with me, particularly in my own home. I’m lucky I have happy memories and that’s getting me through.”

She said she was also blessed with the support she has received from family, friends and locals in her home village of Ballinkillen, Co Carlow.

“I have an incredibly strong family and supportive family and incredible community around me. Everyone around me in Ballinkillen, unfortunately in circumstances like this, but people show their true, true colours.”

She said her mother and father live across the road from where her sons are buried. She said local kids go up to their graves.

“The kids smile at me, talk to me, they wave. Nobody puts their heads down and avoids me. The local GAA pitch put up a granite bench in remembrance of the boys. It overlooks the pitch, which was their second home.”

She added: “I would give it all up in a heartbeat to have the boys back with me.”

Ms Chada said she found out about her husband’s gambling problems and his misappropriation of community funds about 10 days before he took their children on a supposed bowling trip and murdered them.

The court heard about his concerns over the boys growing up with the shame of what he did and living in a broken home.

“It just shows his utter selfishness,” Ms Chada told Newstalk. “Our relationship hadn’t broken down.”

Ms Chada said she had no complaints about the criminal justice system.

“The support and dignity I have been treated with is incredible.”

She said she had a great Garda family liaison officer in Carlow who was available to her at all times.

Tuesday’s court case, she said, was the “most difficult” day of her life since the funeral.

Ms Chada said she hadn’t been in contact with her husband since: “No, I can’t. There’s nothing to say.”