Grieving mum Kathleen Chada described a change of legislation allowing her murdered sons to be named as a “huge relief”.
An amendment to the Children’s Act has come into force today permitting the public identification of children who have died as a result of murder or manslaughter.
Kathleen said it is incredibly important to her to keep the boys’ memories alive.
Eoghan, 10, and five-year-old Ruairi were murdered by their father Sanjeev Chada on July 29, 2013.
Kathleen said: “In reality I think from the very beginning I didn’t doubt that this would ultimately be the outcome.
“But it frustrates me that this had to happen.
“I’ve been very lucky if you like, and I choose that word very carefully, to be able to talk very openly about Eoghan and Ruari.
“As soon as the trial was over I’ve been able to talk and I hope some of that has helped to change things ultimately. There have been families more recently that haven’t had that opportunity.
“In my case, even a pixelated photo of Eoghan and Ruari, probably in many cases people would have recognised them from it and there’s a comfort in that if you like.
“That’s very important to me and so many families I’ve spoken to. It is a way of keeping our loved ones in the minds of people.”
Kathleen added that by sharing her story, the public can learn that such tragedies can happen within any normal family.
She said: “When I see the boys in print, that’s what I’m hoping will be achieved, that people see that there are real people, real victims behind all of this.
“There was no way I could have foreseen what happened. You look at a lot of these cases of familicide and there isn’t a warning.
“What you’re doing is highlighting it. I would have always said this doesn’t happen to real people. But it does and that’s where the warning is.
“It does happen in ordinary families.”
The horrific murder came after Chada feared his €56,000 embezzlement scam of a local community group was about to be exposed.
He drove from Bagenalstown in Co Carlow to Co Mayo before killing his children in an isolated area.
He then placed them in the boot of his car and drove around the countryside before trying and failing to take his own life by driving into a wall.
Kathleen revealed the other important part of overturning the controversial section of the Children’s Act was being able to name her sons’ killer.
She said: “What I found with this legislation was that yet again the victim was powerless, voiceless, pictureless.
“The reality is this country is very much about the perpetrator and the rights of the perpetrator.
“I think there are very few reasons why a murderer should be protected.
"It’s important that people know and see the perpetrator, I think it’s vital.”
Speaking about her memories of her children, Kathleen said one stays with her, clear as day.
She recalled: “With huge big smiles on their faces running onto the local GAA pitch. That’s my overwhelming memory of them. They loved life and the pitch was everything to them. The hurling, gaelic football, anything sporty. I am trying to move on with my life but this will always stay with me. It will never go away.”
