THE MOTHER OF Eoghan and Ruairi Chada, who were killed by their father in July last year, has said her family needed “time and space”.
Justin Cody, solicitor for Kathleen Chada, read out her statement following the life sentencing of Sanjeev Chada at Dublin’s Criminal Courts of Justice this afternoon.
Speaking through her solicitor on the steps of the courthouse, she asked for the media to give her family privacy “to continue grieving and learning to live without Eoghan and Ruairi”.
She said the “correct verdict” had been handed down by Justice Paul Carney “particularly in light of the fact that Eoghan and Ruairi will not be returning home”.
Sanjeev Chada, the boys’ father, pleaded guilty to their murders earlier today and was sentenced to two mandatory life sentences. The pair, aged 10 and five, had been reported missing on 28 July last year and gardaí issued a child rescue alert.
Their bodies were found in the boot of a car involved in a single-car collision a day later in Mayo.
Also speaking outside court today, a solicitor read a statement on behalf of Sanjeev Chada who said he was “truly sorry and heartbroken”. He referred to Eoghan and Ruairi as his “best friends”.
Kathleen Chada’s statement in full:
Kathleen and her family would like to thank everybody who was involved in the investigation and prosecution over the last 14 months. In all the circumstances, the correct verdict was arrived at today, particularly in light of the fact that Eoghan and Ruairi will not be returning home with Kathleen and her family.
At this juncture, the family would ask that the press would respect their privacy and give them space and time to continue grieving and learning to live without Eoghan and Ruairi.
Reporting by Dan MacGuill
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