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A SPECIAL SCHOOL in Drogheda has paid tribute to the three members of one family who were killed yesterday and remarked that “many owe them a debt of gratitude”.
Parents Louise Doherty O’Connor and Mark O’Connor, and their 27-year-old son Evan O’Connor, were found dead in a house in the Drumgowna area of Co Louth yesterday.
A man in his 30s was arrested near the scene yesterday and remains in custody at a Garda Station in the Louth area.
Mark and Louise were founder parents of Drogheda ABACAS Special School and Evan was one of the first children to attend the school, which delivers specialist autism education for children with complex needs aged between 3 and 18.
In a tribute posted on social media, Drogheda ABACAS Special School remarked that both Mark and Louise were “passionate advocates for their son Evan and for all autistic people”.
Mark (54) was a regional manager for the National Advocacy Service, which provides support for people with disabilities.
He was also a board member of Autism Support Louth and Meath, and was a professional advocate for the rights of people with disabilities in his career and had appeared before Oireachtas Committees multiple times to inform politicians on disability issues.
Louise (56) was a nurse who taught English to Ukrainian people living in Ireland. She also volunteered in pet rescue centres.
She had ambitions to volunteer abroad for her 60th birthday, which she posted about online.
Drogheda ABACAS said both Mark and Louise were “instrumental” in establishing the school and added that “many, many families owe them a debt of gratitude”.
They campaigned, lobbied and fundraised for the school and youth clubs and will always be remembered for their legacy to ABACAS and to autistic people.
Evan O’Connor graduated from the school in 2016 and went on to win an award for his work in the local community.
“Evan grew up with us,” said the special school.
“There are so many moments to remember, so many stories from the school and club that we will tell each other, especially over the next few weeks.
“Mark, Louise and Evan will always remain part of the ABACAS Family. May they Rest in Peace. Our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to all family and friends.”
The remains of the three were found in a house in the Drumgowna area shortly before 10am yesterday.
Drumgowna is a small, rural area between the three villages of Tallanstown, Louth village and Stonetown and local priest Fr Gerry Campbell said the community is “devastated and numbed” by the tragedy.
Speaking to RTÉ this morning, Fr Campbell said it was clear from speaking to neighbours that Mark and Louise were a “lovely couple who did so much for their local community” and were “totally devoted to their son Evan”.
Mark had appeared before Oireachtas Committees on several occasions to advocate for the rights of disabled children and the need for awareness and supports in education settings.
He also campaigned on human rights issues, such as the seclusion of disabled students in schools and assisted decision-making.
Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee in 2021 on school bullying and its impact on mental health, Mark noted research which showed that children with additional needs are two to three times more likely than their peers to experience bullying.
He urged that the bullying experienced by children in schools “must be seen through the prism of general attitudes towards people with disabilities in Ireland, the absence of inclusive educational systems, and the importance of children’s mental health supports”.
He called on the Government to engage in a public awareness campaign on reducing the stigma around disability and to invest in inclusive education and child and adolescent mental health services, especially CAMHS intellectual disability services.
He also cautioned that “one of the biggest segregated groups in the Irish education system is children with additional needs” and that the Irish educational system too often “segregates” pupils.
“Many parents I meet will say it can be heartbreaking for them to send their children who do not have a disability to the school around the corner when their other child is going way off to somewhere else,” said Mark.
And during a Joint Committee in 2018 on support for people with disabilities, Mark praised the community-inclusive activities that were available locally for his family and his son Evan, but noted that not every family will have this support.
On Saturdays, Mark said the family would go on park runs or “walk the dogs at the local rescue centre” and that on Sunday afternoons, they would go to local trad sessions.
“These are activities that are community-inclusive,” said Mark at the 2018 Joint Oireachtas Committee.
“I support him (Evan) in doing that. If a young or even older person with a disability does not have that support, what is there?”
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