Oatlands: Abdallah family expecting a baby girl on March 21
The Abdallah family, whose lives imploded when a drunk driver killed their three children in Oatlands two years ago, has revealed the gender of their baby.
NSW
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After a grief-riddled two years following the death of three of their children at the hands of a drugged and drunk driver at Oatlands, the Abdallah family has revealed they are expecting a baby girl next week.
Excited father Danny Abdallah said he and his wife Leila found out they were having a daughter, who is due on March 21, and will be the youngest sibling for surviving children Liana, Michael and Alex.
Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, 8, and their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr, were killed on February 1, 2020, when they were walking with their siblings and cousins to buy ice cream and Samuel Davidson ploughed into them at Bettington Rd after taking a cocktail of drugs shortly before 8pm.
In December, the Abdallahs revealed Leila was expecting her seventh child.
“I’m excited, happy,’’ Mr Abdallah said on Monday.
“The family’s exited about that. We’re looking forward to the new addition.
“We’re having a baby girl. As you’re aware, we lost two girls on the day of the tragedy. “We’re very grateful.’’
While there were some reports the daughter might be christened with the name of one of her sisters who died, the Abdallahs will forgo that option.
“We spoke about naming our daughter after the kids but it’s not fair on the child to have the identity of the other children,’’ Mr Abdallah said.
“We wanted her to have the best possible start. I don’t feel it’s the right thing to name her after a child, after one of her siblings. The middle name might be Angelina or Sienna.’’
Mr Abdallah has also revealed the families were negotiating with Parramatta Council about a memorial along Bettington Rd after discussions with Oatlands Golf Club site failed.
The family met Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis on February 6 and had fruitful discussions to honour the children with a small garden.
“We’ve spoken to council and are of the understanding that they’re going to do something tasteful and modest there in memory of the children and the tragedy that occurred,’’ Mr Abdallah said.
“It will be a little garden with a few stones in memory of the children.’’
The golf club’s decision to reject a memorial on part of its course sparked community outrage last year. Even Prime Minister Scott Morrison implored the board to consider the grieving families and allow the memorial.
Anger escalated when the club announced plans for a 193-unit seniors development.
However, Mr Abdallah said he had moved on from the club’s decision after a size of the memorial could not be reached.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to move forward in life,’’ he said.
“As we all can appreciate, I felt a little bit let down from the golf club for taking us on that journey and having the intention of not having anything there for the scale that we wanted.
They could have said that right at the beginning … they gave me the scale 12 months later, which isn’t fair to do for a grieving family.’’
Oatlands Golf Club has been contacted for comment.
Parramatta councillor Ange Humphries welcomed the memorial.
“After too many delays, too much heartache and too many years, it is fitting that a memorial is going to finally be in place for family, friends and the entire community to reflect on this national tragedy,’’ she said.
“I am sure that we will be able to achieve something that is beautiful, respect and which honours the lives of four beautiful young lives.’’
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Originally published as Oatlands: Abdallah family expecting a baby girl on March 21
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