The heartbroken parents of three children allegedly killed by a drug driver have shared posted a slideshow of their son on what would have been his 14th birthday.
Seven children were riding their bikes on the footpath in Oatlands, north-west Sydney, just before 8pm on February 1 when they were hit by a car.
They were on their way to get ice-cream when a Mitsubishi Triton, allegedly driven by drug driver Samuel William Davidson, mounted the kerb and slammed into them.
Three siblings Antony Abdallah, 13, Angelina Abdallah, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, eight were killed alongside their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11.
Another relative of the Abdallah and Sakr families, Charbel Kassas, 11, has since been released from Westmead Children’s Hospital after fighting for his life. His sister Mabelle, 12, has also been released from hospital.
On Friday, Antony’s devastated parents Danny and Leila Abdallah shared a heartwarming slideshow of their son Antony on what would have been his 14th birthday.
In never seen before images that were posted to Facebook, Antony is pictured hugging and kissing family friends
On Friday, parents Danny and Leila Abdallah (both middle) shared a heartwarming post and slideshow for their son Antony (right) on what would have been his 14th birthday
Antony Abdallah would have turned 14 on Friday but he was tragically killed in a horror accident on February 1
The family shared an emotional post and slideshow filled with family photos on Friday for what would have been Antony’s 14th birthday
Mrs Abdallah pictured with Antony (right) and one of her daughters. The family has been left distraught after losing three of their children
Antony Abdallah (pictured) would have turned 14 on Friday but he and two of his siblings were tragically killed on February 1 after a drunk driver allegedly ploughed into them
‘We are separated for a short time only on this earth and we’ll be united in heaven forever,’ Antony’s parents wrote in a message to him
Mr Abdallah remembered his son Antony (pictured) as a ‘very handsome boy’ after losing three children at the same time
‘Happy 14th Birthday my sweetheart. I love you more than words can describe,’ the post began.
‘You are celebrating today with God, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique.
‘I am sure you are very happy and you feel extra special.
‘Antony, you are my Saint.
‘We are separated for a short time only on this earth and we’ll be united in heaven forever.’
The post received more than 3,000 reactions and close to 900 comments wishing Antony a happy birthday and messages of condolences to the parents.
The Abdallah children pictured when they were younger
Like father like son: Mr Abdallah wraps an arm around his eldest son Antony who would have turned 14 on Friday
Antony tragically died after he was allegedly hit by a drug driver on February 1
Tragic birthday message: Antony’s parents lit candles and spelled his name out in rocks to commemorate what would have been his 14th birthday
Antony (right) was with tragically killed along with siblings Angelina Abdallah, 12, and Sienna Abdallah, eight. The children’s cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, was also killed
Mr and Mrs Abdallah shared a heartwarming slideshow on what would have been Antony’s 14th birthday
The Abdallah family lost three of their children on February 1 in a devastating incident
Mrs Abduallah and her husband took to Facebook to share a happy birthday post to their eldest son who died on February 1
The Abdallah family laugh together as all eight of them try to pose for a family photo, with Mr Abdallah holding up Sienna and her toddler sister
The accused drunk driver, Davidson, is the son of a retired NSW police detective, was charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter, four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death while driving under the influence.
He is also charged with four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death while driving in a dangerous manner, two counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle and negligent driving.
If he is convicted of the 20 offences, Davidson faces a maximum 25 years in jail after the horrendous crash.
The builder was allegedly three times over the legal blood-alcohol limit when his Mistubishi Triton mounted the kerb and slammed into a group of seven children on a footpath at Oatlands in Sydney’s north-west.
The first paramedics who arrived on scene dealt with harrowing scenes.
‘They were confronted with carnage – a very difficult scene and a lot of chaos,’ NSW Ambulance Inspector Andrew McAlpine told reporters.
‘This is an incredibly hard time for emergency services, notwithstanding the loss the the families have sustained.’
‘It’s incredibly difficult for police, fire rescue and the ambos to be confronted with such chaos and carnage.’
Mrs Abdallah shared a heartwarming post on Friday on what would have been her son’s 14th birthday
The accused, Samuel Davidson (pictured), the son of a retired NSW police detective, was charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter, four counts of dangerous driving occasioning death while driving under the influence
The builder was allegedly three times over the legal blood-alcohol limit when his Mistubishi Triton mounted the kerb and slammed into a group of seven children on a footpath at Oatlands in Sydney’s north-west
Seven children were riding their bikes when they were allegedly hit by a blue 4WD driven by a drunk driver three times over the legal limit (pictured)
Two police chaplains also attended to support emergency responders and witnesses at what Acting NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Jason Joyce described as a tragic scene.
‘Police did a fantastic job in trying circumstances at the scene but what we were doing is our job and out thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been touched by this incident,’ he said.
Police allege Davidson had been drinking at home with friends before he got behind the wheel to withdraw cash at a service station.
He was driving back home from a Caltex on Green Street when he allegedly ran a red light before ploughing into the group of children at about 8pm.
One female driver said she witnessed the car careening towards the direction of pedestrians and honked her horn to alert the driver, to no avail.
Davidson’s father Allan, offered an emotional apology to the families of his son’s alleged victims.
‘We’re no stranger to grief, we lost a daughter ten years ago, and now effectively, we’ve lost a son,’ he said.
Danny and Leila Abdallah embrace at the makeshift shrine which has been set up at the scene where their three children Antony, 12, Sienna, 9, and Angelina, 11, were killed on February 1
The mother was comforted as she inspected floral tributes on the ground following Mr Abdallah’s emotional tribute to his children
Their father Daniel Abdallah (pictured addressing media) broke down in tears outside his home and said he was ‘numb’ after losing three children
After returning to the scene of the horror incident, a brave Mrs Abdallah said she forgives Davidson for the alleged crash which killed her three children, saying she could not ‘hate him’.
‘The guy (driver)…Right now I can’t hate him. I don’t want to see him, but I don’t hate him,’ she said.
‘I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair….I’m not going to hate him, because that’s not who we are.
‘Danny and myself were blessed to have six kids. We loved our kids so much… I can feel them hugging me right now.
‘We tried to teach them to pray the rosary, to read their bible, to believe their faith, to be good people in life and to show God’s face through them.
‘I asked God to bring us all together as a community to pray together, but I didn’t ask him to take my kids.
‘To be honest with you, I am sad, I am heartbroken, but I am at peace because I know my kids are in a better place. My kids are angels and I know right now they are with us.
‘(But) I am still waiting for them to come home. My daughter was in surgery today and the first thing when I opened my eyes this morning I was waiting for Antony, Angelina and Sienna to run in and see her… it feels very unreal.’
Her husband had also shared heartwarming memories of his children as they battled to come to terms with their devastating loss.
‘I have a wife Leila, six beautiful children I have been blessed with – yesterday I lost three of my beautiful children,’ he said.
‘These kids were just walking innocently, enjoying each other’s company, and this morning I woke up and I’d lost three kids.
‘I told them to go for a little walk to stay together – ‘you guys should be OK’. Give them a little bit of independence. This is one in a million. They were just walking on the footpath.’
He added the eldest of the three children he lost, Antony, was a ‘very handsome boy’ who loved playing basketball.
‘He woke up that morning and said, ‘We’re going to play this game for Kobe [Bryant].”’
The devastated father meanwhile described Angelina as his ‘little helper’.
‘Anything I needed, she had my back,’ he said.
‘Sienna was my little diva, my little actress. They’ve gone to a better place.
‘All I just want to say is please, drivers, be careful. These kids were just walking innocently, enjoying each others’ company, and this morning I woke up – I have lost three kids.
‘Please, just, make sure you love your loved ones, your kids especially.’
Gone too soon: Sienna Abdallah, eight, (pictured) was described by her father Daniel as his ‘little diva’ as he spoke to reporters the morning after the horrific crash
Pictured: The Abdallah family
Neighbours said Davidson and two friends had recently moved into a rented home in Oatlands, which was described as a ‘typical kind of bachelor house’.
‘They seemed like normal young guys, they introduced themselves and said they would have the odd party but if it got too loud, just to tell them,’ the resident said.
Davidson appeared to flaunt his partying lifestyle on Facebook, often sharing photos of himself beer-in-hand at events with friends.
In other posts he shared his excitement for upcoming dance parties across Sydney.
Friends of the accused have expressed their shock over his alleged involvement in the tragedy, with one describing him as ‘one of the nicest blokes’.
‘It’s a horrible and truly shocking day for everyone involved. Those poor babies, their poor parents, Sam’s poor parents,’ another friend, who did not wish to be named, told Daily Mail Australia.
Pictures of Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah are held along at their funeral on Monday morning. The three siblings were killed when allegedly drunk driver Samuel William Davidson ploughed into them at Oatlands on February 1
Leila Abdallah holds a candle for her dead daughter Sienna who was killed in a horrific car accident on February 1 along with her brother Antony and sister Angelina. Mrs Abdallah is standing next to her daughter Leanna who survived the crash
On February 10, hundreds of mourners gathered with the children’s parents Mr and Mrs Abdallah at Our Lady of Lebanon co-cathedral to farewell the trio.
Monsignor Shora Maree paid tribute to the children’s stoic parents, singling out Danny’s love for his children and Leila’s extraordinary pledge to forgive the driver charged with killing her children.
‘Leila you said the words of forgiveness that stunned the world. That doesn’t come from something human, it comes from the divine,’ he said.
‘Wow. What an inspiration for all of us. We’ve seen the renewal of faith for many.
‘While he acknowledged that their deaths will bring heartache to many, Monsignor Shora told the congregation: ‘God has taken them to a most wonderful celebration in heaven’.
As they sat surrounded by family, Bishop Tarabay told stories on their behalf about their three kids and their devotion to their faith.
He told how unlike most teenagers, Antony posted on Instagram: ‘Give Jesus your weakness, he will give you his strength’.
Mourners heard how Angelina’s teacher had told her parents: ‘Your daughter, she cares for everyone’.
And how instead of going to the movies or out with friends, Sienna spent her eighth birthday helping out at a homeless shelter.
Monsignor Maree addressed the question many religious mourners likely had – why did God let three young children be killed in such a way?
‘It’s a huge question of why now, why three… some may say why didn’t God stop this – it’s an understandable question,’ he said.
‘God did not do this, God allows it because it’s going to bring his glory through.’
He compared the crash site to the hill where Jesus was crucified, saying: ‘Like the hill at Oatlands, we’re not going to forget that hill’.
There was not a vacant seat in Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral for the funeral of the three Abdallah children
To the sound of drum beats from students at the King’s School and a guard of honour the coffins of the three Abdallah children killed in a horrific car crash are carried into their funeral service
A classmate gave a short prayer remembering all the good times they had together at school, and thanking God for the opportunity to know them. ‘Fly high, little angels,’ he concluded.
As the caskets were loaded into three hearses Mrs Abdallah and her sisters followed closely behind, dancing and clapping in a sombre fashion.
With photos of the three children held overhead, they then gathered in a circle and released doves into the sky.
Mr Abdallah followed the release of the doves by setting free an array of balloons, arranged in the shape of a set of rosary beads.
Classmates of the children, from the Kings School and Tara Anglican Girls’ School in Parramatta, were among the mourners who filled the church, along with more than 300 employees from the Abdallah family’s construction business.
The Kings School marching band led the procession, dressed in full regalia, walking ahead of the white hearse carrying the coffins.
Mrs Abdallah is comforted at the funeral of her three children. Since their deaths she has preached forgiveness for the driver charged with their manslaughter
Antony’s coffin was draped with a Kobe Bryant jersey, his favourite basketball player who himself was killed in a helicopter accident within days of the boy’s death.
Many wore small badges featuring the faces of the three children who were killed on February 1 as they walked to buy ice cream from a shop near their home in Oatlands, in Sydney’s north west.
Jenny Morrison, wife of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and NSW Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott were among the mourners.
Also in attendance were strangers who had never met the Abdallah family but were overwhelmed by their compassion since the accident.
The three small coffins of the three children were carried inside to the hymn Throw Open Your Gates, sung in both English and Arabic.
In the lead up to the funeral, the children’s grieving parents Danny and Leila Abdallah said they are amazed by the incredible outpouring of support from family, friends and strangers since the tragedy.
Thousands of bouquets of flowers lined the footpath along Bettington Road where the three children and four of their cousins were hit.
‘Four beautiful young souls taken too soon’ one written tribute to the young children read as a long line of flowers were left at the scene
Rosary beads hang on a fence at the scene where seven children where allegedly hit by a drunk driver on a footpath by a 4WD in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands