NRL legend Tim Mannah’s heartbreak for cousin’s family
Parramatta Eels icon Tim Mannah has revealed the father of three children killed in the horror Oatlands crash is his cousin as the former NRL star paid tribute to the families. His message of support follows hundreds of mourners attending the crash site.
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Parramatta Eels legend Tim Mannah has paid tribute to the families of the four children killed in Saturday’s horror Oatlands crash, reaching out in particular to his cousin and father of the three dead siblings Danny Abdallah.
The retired NRL prop posted a heartfelt message to Facebook on Monday night, saying he was “heartbroken” and “still trying to comprehend it all.”
Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and eight-year-old Sienna Abdallah were killed when alleged drunk driver Samuel Davidson, 29, mounted the footpath and ploughed into a group of seven children.
The siblings’ cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, was also killed as the group went for an evening walk.
Mannah commended the bravery of the children's’ parents and recognised his cousin’s “huge heart.”
“I have looked up to my cousin Danny since I was a kid. I’ve always admired his huge heart for others and especially his children,” Mannah said.
“His wife, Leila, is an actual hero. She raises six kids with ease and grace. Her life revolves around them.
“Can’t imagine what pain they must be feeling right now, but my admiration for them has gone to a new level.
“Antony, Angelina and Sienna may not have lived long lives on earth, but their impact will echo into eternity.”
OFFER YOUR MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO THE OATLANDS CRASH FAMILIES
The grandmother of the three siblings, Georgette Abdallah, thanked the community for their support when she returned to the crash site on Tuesday surrounded by family.
Ms Abdallah said Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8, were “angels on earth”.
“My grandson (Antony) wanted to build a prayer room at his house,” Ms Abdallah said.
“Angelina sleeps with rosary in her hand. Every time she sees tears in my eyes she cries.
“And Sienna, that’s my cheeky girl. She’s beautiful.
“They were my treasure. They promised to look after me when I get old.”
Ms Abdallah asked the community to pray for the family. “Thanks to everyone who came and supported us,” she said. “Pray for my son (Danny) and his wife (Leila) and his daughter and all of us,” she said.
Hundreds of mourners last night united on Bettington Rd at Oatlands in a massive outpouring of heartbreak and prayer for the four killed children.
Lakemba MP Jihad Dib and Fat Pizza actor Rob Shehadie were among the massive crowd.
Led by a priest, the mourners prayed the rosary and walked the stations of the cross along the road where the children were struck.
Mourners spilt over onto the street and blocked off traffic as they sung Christian hymns and recited the Lord’s Prayer only metres from where the children were killed.
“Thank you everyone,” the children’s families shouted before the crowd burst into applause.
A message had been sent out earlier in the day urging family and friends of the Abdallah family to attend.
“Personally requested by Leila, tonight we will be gathering … with the family to pray the rosary and do the stations of the cross,” the message read.
Earlier on Monday, Leila Geagea Abdallah, 32, returned to the scene of the crash where she said she was still waiting for her children to come home.
A stoic Ms Abdallah said she felt like nothing was real two days on from the incident on Saturday night.
“To be fully honest with you, it feels very unreal, I still don’t feel it’s true, I feel that they are still with me – I’m still waiting for them to come home,” she said.
“I opened my eyes this morning, I was waiting for Antony, Angelina and Sienna … you see all of them around each other, cheering each other up, lifting each other.”
Ms Abdallah said she could not hate Davidson despite allegations he was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the crash.
“I can’t hate him, I don’t want to see him, I don’t hate him … I think in my heart, I forgive him,” she said.
“But I want the court to be fair and right – it’s all about fairness.
“I’m not going to hate him, because that’s not who we are and that’s not what our religion tells us.”
Ms Abdallah, a member of the Maronite church, said she had prayed her whole life to God but did not foresee losing her children.
“I didn’t ask him to take my kids, I asked him to take everything away from me but my kids,” she said.
“To be honest with you, I am sad, I am heartbroken, but I’m at peace because I know my kids are in a better place. My kids are angels. They are right now with us, I can feel them, I’ve got goosebumps, I can feel them touching me and telling me they are with us.”
Veronique’s family said in a statement: “We are devastated by the tragic and senseless loss of our beautiful girl.
“Words cannot describe the pain we feel for all the families impacted by this tragedy.
“Veronique was a vibrant 11-year-old girl, full of life, love and had a maturity well beyond her young years.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday offered his sympathies to the families.
“This is the most heartbreaking of things,” he said.
“All of us as parents find it unthinkable to lose all three children in one day, but to hear the great expression of the faith from their mother, in forgiveness, I think humbles us all.
“That is the true expression of faith and love that is impossible to match. And I just pray for their strength as a family.”
Mr Morrison said the family would be “grieving beyond imagination”.
“But the strength they’ve shown and clearly the faith they have is holding them together at this difficult time,” he said.
“Jenny and I pass on our deepest sympathies to them and their entire community, and thanks to the broader generosity of spirit of Australians who have reached out to them at this terribly, terribly difficult time.”