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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Erica Carter & Vincent Whelan

Ronnie Whelan tells RTE there is 'guilt' that he didn't do more for his mum after his dad died

Ireland great Ronnie Whelan says he has felt guilty due to the fact he didn't spend more time at home after his father died.

Ronnie Whelan Snr passed away from stomach cancer in 1993, leaving Ronnie's mum in the house alone, RSVP Live reports.

Opening up about that time on RTE's Keys To My Life, Ronnie explained to presenter Brendan Courtney that he will always carry some guilt.

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"She stayed on in this house for 15 years alone," said Ronnie. "And it must have been so difficult for her, 15 years; she'd been with my dad forever.

"Walking up those stairs every night alone, it must have been so, so hard for her.

"There's a little bit of guilt there always, I think, that I didn't get home enough.

"Could I have done more? Maybe I could have stayed another night, instead of shooting off back to England."

The Finglas native went on to have an amazing career with Liverpool.

Despite the fact that his dad didn't initially let him accept an apprenticeship at 15 to go off to Anfield, Ronnie said that he always did the right thing for him.

"He was always looking out for me," he said.

Ronnie Snr passed away at only 56 years old, which was difficult for his son.

"The person who guided you through life isn't going to be there," he said. "I still miss him to this day.

"I'd love to be coming home now and having a pint with him."

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