The following is the full text of the victim impact statement read by Steve Collins, father of the late Roy Collins, during the sentencing hearing for James Dillon at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today.
"How can I put into words the impact that the loss of our beloved son Roy has had on our family? A devastating, numb feeling that I know will be with us until the day we meet our maker.
Roy was a hard-working man, a productive member of society just putting the finishing touches to his dream home, a house he built for himself on the lake in Killaloe, Ballina, security for his children looking forward to a bright future together.
Now everyday we have to look at Roy’s two beautiful daughters lost in confusion as to where their daddy has gone, their little hearts broken beyond repair, too young to understand, too afraid to contemplate what’s gone on and why.
To Roy, they were his life, they meant everything to him. He was a wonderful father to them and they have been left to go on into life without him and I know they will miss him every day.
I look at Roy’s mother every day, the grief etched in her face, a heartbroken shell of her former self. We try to comfort each other to keep strong for our children. We just can’t believe this has happened to us. No parent should have to bury their children – it’s not natural.
Roy’s brothers’ and sisters’ lives changed on that terrible day. They now live a life of fear always looking over their shoulder, terrified of what could happen to them and all because we did the right thing. We did our civic duty and paid the ultimate price.
Evil came into our lives on that fateful day and took the love of our lives in a callous act, a cowardly act, an unforgivable act, a total waste of a good life. The impact this has had on the nation is of disbelief, a sense of vulnerability and heartbreak for everyone when they look into their own children’s eyes and think ‘there but by the grace of god’, and an understanding of what we are feeling and our loss as a family.
I don’t think Carmel, his mother, or me, his devastated dad, will ever get over this. I don’t know how to get over this. I have worked all my life to give my family everything I could because at the end of the day that is what I feel life is all about – family. And if you have your health and your family, nothing else matters.
There is a link gone from my life. My beautiful son, my pal, my inspiration – a boy I was so proud to call my son.
RIP Roy.
Dad and Mam, your girls, brothers, sister, loved ones and friends.