‘A knife to the heart’: Parents of children killed in Oatlands crash speak out after memorial pulled down

More agony has been inflicted on grieving parents Danny and Leila Abdallah after the memorial dedicated to their children was pulled down at the site where they were killed in Oatlands.

The families of four young children killed in a horrific car crash have suffered another blow, after the memorial dedicated to their children was pulled down at the site where they were killed in Sydney’s northwest.

Siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 8, and their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr were mowed down by drunk driver Samuel Davidson alongside the Oatlands Golf Club last year when they were walking to buy ice cream.

Last month Davidson, 31, was sentenced to 28 years in prison but will be eligible for parole on January 31, 2041.

Leila and Danny Abdallah, with their children before the accident. The victims (unblurred, from left) were Antony, Sienna and Angelina.

However, Leila Abdallah said he was driving past the site when she felt “like a knife was put in my heart” after she saw the damage.

“Somebody had the nerve to strip down my kids’ pictures and strip down the temporary memorial on Bettington Rd where the kids passed away,” she said.

“Obviously they didn’t have the courage to do it that day. It was done at night.

“All over Australia there are memorials in honour of people that have died in car accidents and I have never heard of anyone attempting to get rid of them.”

Mrs Abdallah said she was left “disappointed” that there were people who “wouldn’t have the decency” to reach out and talk to them.

“This is legal and I am not breaking the law, it’s public space and we are allowed to have it there. This is the last memory I have with my children,” she said.

The families of four young children killed in a horrific car crash have suffered another blow, after the memorial site in Oatlands was damaged. Pictures: Supplied

“Memorial or no memorial, that place will always be a reminder of those beautiful children having their lives cut short.

“I hope and pray we can have something permanent in the near future.

“Count your blessings on what you have and don’t worry about four pictures on the side of the road that mean so much to grieving parents and the greater community.”

While the grieving mother said there are “worse things to worry about,” she is encouraging the public to visit the site and drop flowers in memory of the kids.

The memorial is repaired.

The damaged remnants of the memorial.

Last month the Abdallah family was robbed at their home in Telopea.

Ms Abdallah was in the kitchen when she saw a man close the front door. He was clutching a bag and other belongings before fleeing when confronted.

The robbery came weeks before a heartbreaking rejection by the board of directors at Oatlands Golf Club to design for a tasteful memorial to be built on the perimeter of the golf course where the crash occurred.

Oatlands GC directors chose to “close negotiations” for a memorial dedicated to the children after arguing over specifications for the size and design of the memorial.

Leila Abdallah, who was awarded the National 'Mother of the Year' Award, with husband Danny. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Christian Gilles

The club faced heavy backlash on social media and on talkback radio and has since closed its Facebook page.

Mrs Abdallah was recently named National Mother of the Year by Christian organisation FamilyVoice Australia, due to her and Mr Abdallah’s inspiring handling of their tragedy.

The couple publicly forgave Davidson and worked with the NSW government to establish i4give Day.