The memorial of four children who tragically lost their lives in a drunken-car crash in Oatlands has been destroyed by vandals.
The cowardly act comes after plans for a permanent memorial garden were rejected by Oatlands Golf Club in early May.
On February 1 2020, 13-year-old Antony Abdallah and his siblings 12-year-old Angelina, nine-year-old Sienna and cousin, 11-year-old Veronique Sakr tragically lost their lives when an intoxicated Samuel Davidson lost control of his vehicle, mounting a footpath where the children were walking on their way to get an ice-cream.
Mother Leila Abdallah issued a statement on social media yesterday detailing her devastation.
“Last night I drove past and it felt like a knife was put in my heart,” she said.
“Somebody had the nerve to strip down my kid’s pictures and strip down the temporary memorial.
“Obviously they didn’t have enough courage to do it in the day; it was done at night.
“All over Australia there are memorials in honour of people that have died in car accidents and I have never heard of anyone attempting to get rid of them.”
The memorial was erected on Bettington Road where the children tragically passed away.
The family worked with City of Parramatta Council on plans for a memorial garden at the site but it was rejected by the golf club board on the basis that it was “too big”.
Ms Abdallah was also the recent victim of a home invasion, where a number of items were stolen whilst she and a friend were at the home.
“This is legal and I am not breaking the law, it’s a public space and we are allowed to have it there,” she said.
“This is the last memory I have of my children.”
Ms Abdallah, a devout Maronite Catholic, says she prays they can have something more permanent on display in the future.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.