THE woman whose family was killed in last week’s Lough Foyle drowning tragedy has thanked the people of her home town of Moville for their “compassion and support” since the tragedy.
In her first comments since her family’s funeral, Geraldine Mullan also announced plans to re-open the family’s gardening business in honour of her husband.
John Mullan (49), son, Tomás (14) and six-year-old daughter, Amelia drowned when the family’s car skidded off the main Derry to Moville road while returning from a family day out before the children returned to school.
In a hugely emotional address at her family’s Requiem Mass in Moville on Monday August 24, Mrs Mullan revealed that when divers found the bodies of her children, they were holding on to each other.
A senior oncology nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital, Mrs Mullan also revealed that she pleaded with rescuers from the top of her husband’s upturned car to let her go into Lough Foyle when she realised her family was gone.
She also revealed that the family had purchased 50 gifts for her husband’s 50th birthday which was due on September 7. She now plans to mark his birthday by visiting his grave, she said.
Friends of the family said Mr Mullan was a hard worker who built his Moville gardening centre up to be a successful business.
In a post on the business’s Facebook page Mrs Mullan said: “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to each and everyone from my hometown of Moville and all the surrounding areas near and far. The love and compassion and support shown has been very much appreciated during this difficult time.
“John’s first love was family and he displayed this to myself, Tomás and Amelia on a daily basis. John’s second love was the garden centre and he took great pride and joy in his business and to all his customers.”
She said that the business would re-open on Saturday August 29 and from Tuesday to Thursday next week on a limited basis.
“In John’s honour, and in wanting to keep the spirit of his hard work alive and in line with Covid-19 regulations, I will be opening the garden centre,” she said.
The centre will also stage a stock clearance sale over two consecutive weekends, beginning Saturday September 4 and Saturday September 12.
“Heartfelt thanks,” Mrs Mullan said.