Oatlands car crash: Memorial to be established

The Parramatta community has mourned the death of the four children who were killed at Oatlands and now it has plans to honour their lives after they were cut short by an alleged drunk driver.

A sea of rosary beads and bouquets have filled Oatlands site where four children died. Picture: John Grainger

• Faith and family prevail at funeral
• Veronique Sakr laid to rest

The parents of the three Abdallah family who were killed by an alleged drunk driver at Oatlands on February 1 will be involved in plans to establish a permanent memorial in honour of them and their cousin.

Parramatta Council will create a permanent memorial to commemorate the deaths of Abdallah siblings Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, who were killed while walking along Bettington Rd on their way to buy ice cream.

The council agreed to fund the memorial during its meeting on Monday night, hours after thousands gathered to mourn the Abdallah children at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral at Harris Park.

The memorial for the children killed will be replaced by a permanent memorial. Picture John Grainger

Councillor Pierre Esber proposed the memorial near the site where the fatality occurred.

He has known father Danny Abdallah since he bought his late parents’ home at Oatlands in 2016 and will meet with the family to discuss plans for the memorial.

“God give him the strength,’’ he said.

Veronique Sakr was laid to rest on Tuesday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Antony Abdallah.

Angelina Abdallah.

“It’s our role and our responsibility that we do something in the community.’’

Cr Esber said the tragedy brought back horrific memories for his family 53 years after his sister died in a car crash at North Parramatta, when he was in the car.

Sienna Abdallah.

Danny Abdallah is comforted at Oatlands. Picture: John Grainger

The death led to a stop sign being installed at the corner of Harold and Sorrell streets and he said it was not too late to take action at Bettington Rd.

The council also agreed to erect permanent guard rails near the bend outside the golf course where the crash occurred and a roundabout on the corner of York and Bettington roads.

A “humbled” Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer said the Abdallah funeral was beautiful and hoped the council could continue to support the families.

Parramatta councillor Pierre Esber. Picture: Angelo Velardo

“It brought together all the Parramatta people, and away from Parramatta, who came together as one to see the extreme sadness …,’’ he said.

“To see the grief this family was suffering was horrendous but they showed courage beyond words.”

Samuel Davidson, 29, was charged over the deaths and is due to return to Parramatta Local Court on April 2.