Kathleen Folbigg’s ex-husband Craig Folbigg dies of heart attack

Craig Folbigg, whose ex-wife Kathleen spent 20 years behind bars wrongly accused of killing their children, has died.

Craig Folbigg, whose ex-wife Kathleen spent 20 years behind bars wrongly accused of killing their children, has died of a heart attack.

It is understood Mr Folbigg, was rushed to Maitland Hospital, in the NSW Hunter Valley on Saturday, but couldn’t be stabilised and died on Monday. He was also suffering from an unspecified type of cancer.

Mr Folbigg’s longtime lawyer Danny Eid said he “was a dedicated, hard working family man and he spent his last few years under enormous stress and pressure.

“He never stopped believing his children had been murdered,” Mr Eid said.

Craig Folbigg during the inquiry continues into convictions of his ex-wife Kathleen.

Kathleen and Craig Folbigg at their wedding.

Mr Folbigg had said he was ‘frustrated and disappointed’ by the decision to pardon his ex wife.

Ms Folbigg, 55, was convicted of three counts of murder and one of manslaughter in 2003 after her babies Patrick, Sarah, Laura and Caleb died in suspicious circumstances between 1989 and 1999 but was released on Monday due to ‘reasonable doubt’ over the cause of their deaths.

Ms Folbigg was later pardoned.

Mr Folbigg had said he was ‘frustrated and disappointed’ by the decision to pardon his ex wife.

Mr Folbigg had been critical of the outcome of the pardon and had not changed his view,” Mr Eid said on Monday.

While Mr Folbigg has never publicly spoken about the case since his ex-wife’s conviction, he “continues to suffer”, Mr Eid has said previously.

“Like any reasonable parent after losing his children, if he was not feeling shattered you would not be normal.”

Mr Folbigg refused to be involved in the inquiry. He also declined to provide a DNA sample for scientists who were examining the genetic sequencing and he has not attended any of the hearings which again raked over the tragic deaths of his young children.

During the inquiry, Mr Eid said Craig had endured 20 years of hell.

“He is frustrated and disappointed he has to endure yet another chapter,” he said.

“This is a man people say will heal over time. But with all this time the wounds continue to bleed for him. As you can imagine losing four children in those circumstances, closure is so important for him and his family.

“With 20 years of repeated attempts to try and overturn the conviction and multiple inquiries by the state’s greatest legal minds — the wound can never heal.”

Mr Eid said Mr Folbigg has been forgotten. “He is the victim in this case.”

Ms Folbigg’s lawyer, Rhanee Rego, made a statement on behalf of Ms Folbigg who said: “There are only two people on this earth who knew what it felt like to lose Caleb, Patrick, Sarah and Laura. My condolences go to the loved ones Craig leaves behind.”

More to come.