Oatlands tragedy: Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah farewelled

The parents of three children killed in an alleged high-range drink-driving crash have farewelled them at their funeral.

Antony Abdallah, 13, and his sisters Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8, were farewelled in Sydney today. Picture: Matrix

The heartbroken parents of three children killed in an alleged high-range drink-driving crash in ­Syd­ney’s west have offered their final goodbyes to their son and daughters at a gut-wrenching ­funeral.

A week after their family was torn apart by the tragedy, Daniel and Leila Abdallah shared the grief of losing three of their six children with the support of an ­entire community still writhing from the death of Antony Abdallah, 13, and his sisters Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8.

Hundreds of employees from Mr Abdallah’s construction company formed a guard of honour in the driveway of Our Lady of ­Lebanon Co-Cathedral, Harris Park, in tribute to the innocent lives taken under unfathomable circumstances.

White hearses arrived to the sound of ringing bells and beating drums. Picture: Matrix

One man reminded the crowd they were all “one family” as the white hearses arrived to the sound of ringing bells and beating drums.

White and pink flowers sat atop three child-sized coffins ­carrying the siblings into the cathed­ral, where they were farewelled by thousands of mourners.

The church pews filled quickly, leaving many standing, while a crowd lined the churchyard listening to the service on loudspeakers. Some were holding white roses and had photos of the Abdallah siblings pinned to their chests.

Danny Abdallah at his children’s funeral in Harris Park. Picture: Matrix

Ms Abdallah, the children’s mother, at the funeral.

Mr and Ms Abdallah sat with their daughter Liana between them. She broke down in tears as she took in the coffins holding her brother and sisters.

Mr Abdallah and the male members of his family wore a blue suit with a pink shirt to signify the children’s genders, while the women wore white, along with the rest of the attendees.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliot and Jenny Morrison, Scott Morrison’s wife, were among those who attended the service.

Monsignor Shora Maree, a priest leading the service, gave a homily to the devastated family.

“Danny and Leila, we have seen you be the most inspirational example … of God’s love,” ­Monsignor Maree said.

“Danny, you said Jesus is the rock, and Leila, you said the words of forgiveness and stunned the world. What an inspiration to all you are.”

Monsignor Maree then spoke of the children and their tendency to give without expecting anything in return.

He noted that Sienna had given her piece of cake to a homeless person on her eighth birthday.

He then recalled how Antony dedicated one of the last basketball games he would play to the late Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. A Lakers ­jersey was draped across Antony’s coffin.

Harris Park: The funeral for the Abdallah siblings Sienna, Angelina and Antony who died in a tragic accident at Oatlands...

Posted by 7NEWS Sydney on Sunday, 9 February 2020

Ms Abdallah led the service in prayer before family members carried the coffins away to the sound of drums to a private burial.

“Thank you for the beautiful and precious lives of Antony, ­Angelina and Sienna,” she said.

“They are rejoicing with you (God) today.”

Outside, pink and blue balloons strung together to form the shape of rosary beads were let go into the sky.

It has been alleged that Samuel Davidson, 29, was three times over the legal limit when he drove off Bettington Road, Oatlands, and hit seven children, all from the same extended family.

Veronique Sakr, 11, a cousin of the Abdallahs, was also killed in the horrific smash. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday morning at the Santa Sabina college chapel in Strathfield.

Three other children were injured­. Ms Abdallah’s nephew, Charbel Kassas, 11, is believed to have suffered extensive brain damage and remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Mr Davidson has been charged with 20 offences, including four counts of manslaughter. He is due to appear in court on April 2.