Unthinkable double murder of Chelsea and Lukasz bonds mums Magda Pearce and Debra Ireland

Chelsea and Lukasz’s mums were acquaintances until police delivered the news no parent should have to hear and a forgotten text sparked an unbreakable bond.

Magda Pearce and Debra Ireland have become friends in heartbreaking circumstances. Picture: Tim Joy

If you had spotted Magda Pearce and Debra Ireland in the crowd at the Katy Perry concert last week, you would have smiled to see two close friends singing, dancing and laughing together.

But if you looked away, you might not have seen Debra sit down during Firework in tears. And Magda sit down to rest a hand on her arm.

Debra had remembered her daughter Chelsea joyously belting out that song.

Next month will mark five years since she and her boyfriend Lukasz were killed. They were both just 19.

Lukasz’s father is serving a 34 year non parole period for their murders at his South East property.

Rebecca Morse with Debra Ireland and Magda Pearce at the Adelaide Katy Perry Concert. Picture: Rebecca Morse

Their children Chelsea and Lukasz were killed by Lukasz's father. Picture: Supplied

By way of context, lest it be mistaken for self-indulgence, Magda and I connected when she sent me a message on social media after I lost my job on Ten News.

Two weeks later her next correspondence made my blood run cold. It read “my boy was killed this weekend”.

We have stayed in touch over the ensuing years and I have observed her friendship with Debra in awe.

The mothers were only really acquaintances before that terrible day. They had been at a couple of the same events with their children, but they were not close.

Magda recalls the text message she received from Debra after police had delivered the news that no parent should ever be punished with.

It read “our poor children”. Deb doesn’t remember sending it, such was the blur of shock and grief.

Magda Pearce and Debra Ireland have formed a friendship in heartbreaking circumstances. Picture: Tim Joy

Magda didn’t know how Debra, her husband Greg and their older daughter Maddie would feel about her in the wake of the unimaginable violence of her ex.

“I didn’t know what to expect. If they were going to be angry with me, would they blame me?”

She turns to Debra. “I remember I only asked you once, and I know I never have to ask you again. I gave you full permission for you to be honest with me and I said do you wish they never met?”

“And you said to me, ‘No, because he showed her love’.”

The shared memories of their children cement their bond. Both mothers light up when they speak of them.

Chelsea was passionate about social justice and wanted to save the world. She was studying engineering and was going to use it to preserve the environment.

Lukasz (pronounced Wu-kash and known to his friends as Wu) was studying journalism and wanted to be a music writer. He has been recognised with a posthumous Associate Degree.

Lukasz was relaxed and happy with a big heart. He loved his friends, his little brother and Chelsea.

They had plans to travel the world together.

Chelsea and Lukasz at his formal. Picture: Supplied

The young couple had just started on a health kick when they left for that fateful weekend away and Chelsea had told her mother that she planned to make chia puddings on their return.

Debra’s final message to her was “What milk do you want?”

She wishes she had signed off with “I love you” but, as Chelsea’s older sister explained to her, that was a way of expressing her love. Having the ingredients she wanted, laid out on her return home; that in itself was an act of love.

And how could she possibly have known that she had crafted her final communication to her teenage daughter?

I asked Magda what her last text to her son was.

It was the message of a worried mother whose doting son hadn’t checked in for a while.

“Where are you?”

It was to go unanswered.

Magda and Debra now consider themselves family. They spend milestone dates together. The good and the bad. They don’t have to put on a brave face around each other.

Magda Pearce looks formal photo of son Lukasz with his girlfriend Chelsea. Picture: Tim Joy

Debra Ireland holding photos daughter Chelsea and her boyfriend Lukasz. Picture: Tim Joy

Last year Magda and Chelsea’s father Greg ran the New York Marathon and raised money for Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.

While going through Chelsea’s artwork her parents had found a bucket list she had created when she was 11.

Running that marathon was one of the items and her Dad has now ticked it off in her name.

While I’m interviewing these stoic women, Debra and I are having a glass of bubbles.

Magda declines. She used alcohol as a crutch in those early, dark days and she was scared of where it might take her.

“This is part of the way I’m staying alive, basically. There are times that it gets really dark and I want to always have a clear mind and not feel like my decisions are clouded.”

Loss and pain like they have endured could tear two families apart, but too much damage has already been done by one man’s crime. Now there is only healing.

“I will forever be grateful to have your friendship,” Magda tells Debra.

Five years on, that enduring friendship is part of the legacy of their children’s love.

Listen to the full interview on the In the Genes podcast.