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Dáithí Mac Gabhann's family forced to return to Belfast after self-isolating in Ballycastle

West Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his mother Seph at their caravan in Ballycastle. The family have been forced to return to their home in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann
West Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his mother Seph at their caravan in Ballycastle. The family have been forced to return to their home in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann West Belfast toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his mother Seph at their caravan in Ballycastle. The family have been forced to return to their home in Belfast. Picture by Mal McCann

THE family of seriously ill toddler Dáithí Mac Gabhann have said they are "heartbroken" to have to leave their north coast caravan just days after they moved to protect their son's health.

The three-year-old, from Ballymurphy in west Belfast, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and was given just a 10 per cent chance of survival after he underwent the first of several major surgeries at just four-days-old.

He has now been on the donor list for 650 days.

Dáithí's parents Máirtín and Seph decided at the weekend to move to their caravan in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, to try and protect their young son's immune system from the threat of Covid-19 infection.

But the family said they are now returning their home in Ballymurphy after the British government advised people remain in their houses.

"Essential travel does not include visits to second homes, camp sites, caravan parks or similar, whether for isolation purposes or holidays," a government spokesman said.

"People should remain in their primary residence.

"Not to do so puts additional pressure on communities and services that are already at risk."

Mr Mac Gabhann said it was "heartbreaking" that the family had to return to Belfast.

"I'm packing up the car now," he said yesterday morning.

"Everyone has to stick to the guidelines so we can't be hypocritical and stay.

"It's heartbreaking but it's the right thing to do."

He said the family had moved to try and protect his son.

"The reason we came up here wasn't for a holiday it was to get away from all the people (in Belfast).

"This was supposed to be the big week where we'd see a spike in cases and we wanted (to give Dáithí) the best chance."

Mr Mac Gabhann said the family had spent several happy days self-isolating in the caravan, playing games with Dáithí.

But he said he was disturbed that so many people were flouting social distancing guidelines.

"It's very clear that other people aren't following the advice of government," he said.

"In Ballycastle town yesterday there were 30 motorcyclists in a big group.

"To be honest we're having to leave because people aren't sticking to social distancing."

Mr Mac Gabhann urged people to adhere to the two metre guidelines and said those who do not are impacting on the over-stretched health service.

"We just can't stress enough to people how serious this is," he said.

"We've spent months of our lives in intensive care units and we know how under pressure the doctors and nurses are already.

"Seeing Dáithí in intensive care for months, fighting for his life, was the worst time in our lives."