Danny and Leila Abdallah accept good wishes from jailed killer driver for new baby

Danny and Leila Abdallah have welcomed their “second gift from above” since a man ran over and killed three of their children, and in a remarkable show of forgiveness have accepted the driver’s well wishes.

Danny and Leila Abdallah have welcomed a new baby girl into the family. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Exclusive: Danny and Leila Abdallah have welcomed their “second gift from above” since a man ran over and killed three of their children, and in a remarkable show of forgiveness have accepted the driver’s well wishes.

Ms Abdallah gave birth to her eighth child, a healthy, yet-to-be-named, baby girl on Saturday, April 20.

In an exclusive interview Mr Abdallah revealed he had received a call from jail from Samuel Davidson congratulating them on the birth.

Mr Abdallah has formed a relationship with Davidson, who crashed a ute under the influence of drugs and alcohol and mounted the footpath, smashing into the children in Oatlands in 2020.

“There are no winners in this, in any tragedy like this, so all we can do is show forgiveness, move forward in the best way we can and try to find joy in the midst of pain,” Mr Abdallah said, confirming he speaks regularly with Davison and his parents.

Danny and Leila Abdallah have described their baby as their “new gift from above:. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Samuel’s parents gave me a call and said congratulations on the new baby and I said thank you,” he said.

“The driver rang me from jail the next day and said congratulations and that he was thinking of us and I told him he and his family are in my prayers.”

Ms Abdallah intends to also meet with the driver, who has converted to Christianity, when the time for her is right.

Right now she is focused on the newest addition to her family who is “definitely a miracle baby”.

“This pregnancy wasn’t planned. It came as a shock and I had two dreams of Antony and Angelina in the same week so I knew that I was pregnant,” she said.

Danny and Leila Abdallah with their newborn baby and other children (from left) Alex, Michael, Selina and Liana as well as a photo of their three children killed by a drunk driver. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

And while another baby could never fill the void left by the loss of Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, eight – and her niece Vernoique Sakr who was also killed in the crash – the little bub was a gift from God who was already filling their western Sydney home with happiness.

“My older children Liana, Michael and Alex are so nurturing and caring with Selina (their first child born after the tragedy) and now the baby and they have become some kind, empathetic children because of what they have been through,” Ms Abdallah said.

“People think I am strong but I have strength from my children and my husband.”

The couple contemplated naming their baby after their children lost too early, but Ms Abdallah said she was conscious of allowing her daughter to grow up with no expectation, or pressures.

Sienna, Angelina and Antony are much missed.

“It’s hard when you lose children, you remember them and honour them, but for a living child that can be a lot of pressure to live up to,” Ms Abdallah said.

“It’s a heavy weight on the shoulders of the children still living. So I want the name to be perfect so we give this baby the perfect name, her own identity so the children are helping us with that.

“We will know when the name is right.”

When the Abdallah’s welcomed their seventh child on March 18, 2022, big sister Liana suggested the name Selena, combining the names of Angelina and Sienna.

Now Liana and her brothers Alex and Michael will help come up with the perfect name for the latest addition, who Ms Abdallah was convinced was going to be a boy.

The Abdallah’s said their sons would help choose the new baby’s name. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Abdallah said: “Through this journey my greatest inspiration is Leila, she has been my rock. She has been the pillar of strength for the whole family.

“For someone that has been through the grief of losing three children and then having children again that speaks volumes of who she is. She has been an inspiration for me.”

Mr Abdallah said that while the pain of losing three children would follow them forever, the Abdallah’s were finding small joys every day in their sorrow.

“It’s how you pick up and move forward and lead by example so your kids know how to conduct themselves in the midst of the future hardships because kids do what you do not what you say,” he said.

“We were talking as a family one day and said if you could wish for anything what would it be. Leila said to have her children back. All the children said things they wanted, like toys or games, or whatever it may be and in that moment I said to Leila ‘Our children are daring to dream again’.

“That’s a beautiful thing.”

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