A CORK mum who spoke out about losing three sons in tragic circumstances is in mourning again after losing a fourth.
Heartbroken Christine Kavanagh is appealing to the Government to tackle the “scourge” of drug dealing following the death this week of her lad in a homeless shelter.
Dillon, 30, from Gurranabraher in Cork city, died on Thursday night of a suspected overdose, the third brother to die of drugs while a fourth died of epilepsy in 2016.
His death occurred within days of his 36-year-old brother, Damien, who was found dead in a flat in Cardiff in Wales on January 6.
He had moved to Cardiff in 2019 to escape the drugs scene in his native city.
Christine also lost her 31-year-old son Leon in 2021 after he succumbed to drug addiction.
The brave mum’s story of sorrow began in 2016 when her son Ross, 31, collapsed and died of an epilepsy-related condition.
Christine told Opinion Line Producer, Paul Byrne, on Cork’s 96FM that she has been through more heartache than any parent should have to bear.
She said: “The dealers have to stop dealing these dirty drugs to our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. I got the call about Dillon last night at about quarter to eleven. I was told Dillon was after passing away.
“It is not fair for a mum, a dad, a sister or a brother to bury another brother or a son. There should be more help out there. More services for them (people suffering from addiction).
“Dillon was a lovely son. Very educated but when he went down that road with those dirty drugs, it just took Dillon away from us. Dillon was back home with us (in Gurranabraher) two weeks ago when Damien passed away.”
Christine thanked her family and the local community for their “fantastic support” over the years and particularly in the last fortnight as she has endured the unimaginable loss of two of her sons.
‘FANTASTIC SUPPORT’
She said: “I have fantastic support from our two families. The family of their dad and all my family and friends and work and everywhere. The support we are getting is fantastic for me. But there is not enough support for addicts.
“I would like to stop these drug dealers giving drugs and taking our children. These dirty drugs are after killing my son – my sons. Poor Ross died from epilepsy.
“If any dealer can hear my voice this morning please stop doing it. It just has to stop.”
REPATRIATION HELP
A GoFundMe page was set up just two weeks ago to help pay for the repatriation costs to bring Damien home from Wales for burial.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust also stepped in to assist the family.
Poignantly, when Christine lost her son Damien earlier this month she told the Neil Prendeville show on Cork’s Red FM that her heart was “broken” and she “couldn’t take any more”.
‘CAN’T TAKE ANY MORE’
She said: “I don’t think I can take any more. Our hearts are crushed. Our world has ended.
“I was on to him Christmas and I said, ‘Damien I got Botox done.’ And he said, ‘Mam, you are 65’. And he was laughing.
“I told him I was going to come over to him in Wales when I had my lips done and he started skitting laughing.
“He always said, ‘Mam you are the strongest woman.’ Little did I know that I was going to get a phone call about his death.”
