Sean O'Mahony

Sean died on 1st April 1987 after being in a car crash in which he was a passenger. He was the son of (The Late) Patrick James & Eileen O'Mahony and leaves behind his 6 sisters and 1 brother. Sean was also an uncle to 10 nephews and 6 nieces some of who still remember him even though they were only very young, but that wasn't difficult as he was such a character.

My brother Sean was like any typical teenager - He loved going out with his friends and had a love for Motorbikes as he got older. I was always answering the door to his friends asking me if Sean was there but more often than not, he was already out and about on his bike with another friend or two, but they always knew where to find each other. I'm the youngest of 8, and Sean really did spoil me, because to him, I was his baby sister and he wouldn't let my other sister and brother say a bad word against me as there was only 4 of us left living at home. Sean would often give me a lift to school on the back of his bike and I was so proud to tell all my school friends he was my brother as he meant a lot to me and to so many other people too.

Mum & Dad being Irish, wanted to move back to Ireland for a while so my sister Carmel, my two brothers Sean & Tom and I went with them as we were all still living at home. We settled in quickly and all began new schools and made our own friends and so life continued.

Sean left School and then went to College. After he'd taken his exams and got his results, he was offered a job as a Trainee Accountant in Bracknell, London so he left Ireland shortly afterwards to start a new life in London.

It was very quiet when he'd left home and it took a while for us all to get used to not seeing him popping in and out with his friends but he was happy in London and enjoyed his new job so that was the main thing - his happiness.

Sean phoned regularly and wrote at least once a week because although he was happy in his job etc, he missed everyone as he was treated in an 'extra special' way by mum and dad and all of us really because he was very poorly as a baby.

He was born with a 'Hole In His Heart' and had several major operations when he was very young. He was very delicate all his life and had to go for regular hospital check-ups to see how things were going but Sean never let his heart problem get in the way as he got older, not even the long scar that went from the front of his chest all the way around his back. The scar was visible to everyone but Sean wasn't conscious of it as he'd successfully come through all the operations he undergone as a child and he was so happy to be living a normal, healthy life apart from having Asthma but that was controlled with medication and an Inhaler.

Mum and Dad loved to hear from Sean and would often phone him to see if he was ok and ask how his job was going etc and they'd chat for what seemed hours but I'd do anything now to answer the phone just to hear his voice again.

Every morning during the week, I'd get up, take a shower, have some breakfast and gather my things together to take to school. On this particular morning, 1st April 1987, it was a day I will NEVER forget for the rest of my life. I was doing the usual things before school when there was a knock on the front door. I thought one of my friends was calling for me, as they often did to walk up to school together. As I approached the door, I saw 2 tall figures in dark clothing. I hesitated for a moment wondering who it could be, then opened the door. This was a moment anyone dreads, especially when I was only 17 years old, to see a Policeman and our local Parish Priest standing at your door.

I said "Hello Father" to the Priest but he himself hesitated and then replied: "Hello Greta. Is it alright for us to come in?" The Priest knew our family very well as we attended the Catholic Church every Sunday and with it being a close knit community where we lived in Waterford, Ireland at the time, everyone was familar with each other.

I invited the Priest and the Policeman in and the Priest asked me did I have a brother called Sean living in Bracknell, London and I said yes I did. The Priest knew I had 2 brothers as they served as Altar Boys when they were younger but I suppose they have to make certain. I began to shake thinking of all kinds of things, but WHY would the Priest be here with a Policeman I thought. After I'd invited them in, Father asked me were my parents in. I said I'll go and get them so I ran upstairs tripping on nearly every second step as I couldn't get up there quick enough. I knocked on my parents bedroom door, went in and told them that our Parish Priest and a Policeman were downstairs and they'd like to speak to them. I told them that they asked me if I had a brother called Sean living in Bracknell, London. I was crying at this stage as I was too scared to go back downstairs incase I heard the dreaded words. I just broke down in mum and dads bedroom and quietly sobbed saying "I think Sean is dead".

Whilst my parents were getting dressed I made my way back downstairs, wiping my eyes on the way and told the Priest and the Policeman that both Mum and Dad were on their way. I invited them to sit down, but they said they were ok but I knew things WEREN'T going to be ok for me or my family when my parents came down. I knew deep down inside something was terribly wrong and all the memories of Sean came back to me - I felt physically sick.

Mum and Dad both came down together and like me, wondered what the Priest and Policeman were here about Sean for. The Policeman hadn't spoken until now, but then when he did speak, my whole world had just been shattered. The Policemans words were: " I'm sorry to break this to you Mr & Mrs O'Mahony but your son Sean was in a car crash in the early hours of the morning and he was pronounced dead at the scene despite all attempts to revive him. The Priest then spoke and said "You'll be pleased to know that Sean was given the 'Last Rites' by a Priest in the Hospital he was taken to." Mum and dad were very pleased about that as it means a lot to Catholic people when somebody dies for them to receive a Blessing and the 'Last Rites'.

Sean was the passenger in a vehicle in which his friend was driving. I'll never understand what kind of friend would collect my brother from work and then drive very carelessly, speeding and then because he wasn't thinking about himself, or more importantly, my brother and other innocent motorists, lose control and end up smashing into a tree. If you want to do something like that, WHY when you've got a passenger in the car and not only put their life at risk but cause their DEATH? Why couldn't he have waited until he was in his car by himself? NO!!! - he wanted to show off thinking he was better than everyone else on the road but sadly for us, his family, we lost a beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew and Cousin.

When the Policeman uttered the words I somehow knew were about to be said, I screamed, grabbed my school bag and ran out of the door, making my way to school as I couldn't bear to hear the circumstances of Sean's death. Hearing he was dead and that I didn't get the chance to say I loved him or say my last goodbye was hard enough to deal with, but I didn't want to believe I wouldn't EVER see him again walking into our home or him givng me lifts to school on his Motorbike.

Why I just ran out to school that day like I normally did I can't remember - I really just didn't want to believe what had just been said to my parents and I. Obviously, I broke down and all the way to school I couldn't stop crying, thinking of Sean and how he must have suffered. When I got to school, I just sat at my desk and sobbed uncontrollably. It was then called out over the 'School Intercom' that my brother had been killed and prayers were said in every classroom for him. I just couldn't come to terms with what had happened and one of my teachers offered to take me home soon afterwards but I couldn't bear to go until I knew the Policeman had left my house. The vison of those 2 people in dark clothing at my door is still very clear in my mind today.

When I returned home from school an hour later, Mum and Dad were already making plans to fly over from Ireland to London to arrange Sean's Funeral. Both my parents were absolutely shocked beyond belief that their 21 year old son was going to his grave before them as most parents don't expect to bury their children but life can be so cruel sometimes and you just never know what's around the next corner unfortunately.

Mum & Dad flew over to London with my other brother to make the Funeral arrangements and my brother had to formally identify Sean's body. Mum and Dad returned the following day until the day before the Funeral as I was staying with my sister whilst they were away. The whole thing was just a blur and I was really hoping that someone was going to say 'April Fools Day' and that it was all a dream but it wasn't - It was NO Joke.

The Funeral came so quickly and again I wish it hadn't as the reality was really setting in now. Sean was Laid To Rest in Yatton, Bristol, North Somerset.

The Sympathy Cards & Mass Cards were coming through our door for several weeks and lots of Masses were being said in Sean's Memory. It proved what a really popular lad my brother was with the amount of cards we received for him. The morning after we'd received the news about Sean's death, the post came as usual but I left it as it was a card addressed to mum. When she returned, she opened the card and started crying. I wondered what it was and when I looked, it was a Mother's Card for mum from Sean telling her he'd phone her at the weekend and wrote: 'Even though I don't tell you very often, I Love You'. That broke mums heart, and to this day, she's kept the Mothers Day card and the letter Sean enclosed with his little message especially for her. That weekend Sean said he'd phone mum on Mother's Day never came as he'd died a day or two after posting the card.

Sean gets talked about all the time and mum's got photo's of him around her house. She has only begun to speak about Sean properly in the last year and a half as his death deeply affected eveyone but I don't think mum will ever got over losing him. She was always worrying about him whilst he was younger due to his heart condition and if I can remember rightly, my older sisters spoiled him too as he was their 1st brother to come along so he was everyones 'Blonde Haired, Blue Eyed Boy'.

Four months after Sean died, my parents decided to move back to the UK and I, being only 17 and the youngest came with them. I settled into College and again made lots of friends and remained in College for several years.

At 18, I got my own place and it was then time to fend for myself and learnt very quickly to become independent. Days come and days go but memories always remain with you. I always wish to forget sad things I hear and remember good things or happy things that might have happened to people, especially family or friends. I'm 38 years old now and it's 21 years since Sean left us but that's one thing I'll never forget...EVER.

I don't want to forget the day Sean left us even though it was the saddest thing that's happened in our family because Sean will ALWAYS hold a place in my heart, ALWAYS be in my thoughts and will ALWAYS be with me wherever I go in life.

Sean...You were my big brother, you still are my big brother and I will never forget all the love you gave you me as your baby sister. I've got a smile on my face writing this part, as I'm not much of a baby now, lol, but I know if you were still here with us now, you'd still treat me the same as you did then...I CAN ONLY WISH but you're in a much better place and Dad's there with you so I know you're both safe in God's Hands.

Sean, You're The Brightest Star In The Sky Every Night and I know you're smiling down on us.

Keep Smiling because if you're happy, I'm happy.

I cannot say 'Goodbye' to you Sean so sleep well dear brother.

Until We meet again - Take care of yourself and dad too,

Love Always, Your Youngest Sister,

Greta xxx