Heartbroken mum who lost three sons to drugs calls for change

She is mourning the loss of four sons, three died due to drugs

Dillon Kavanagh, 30, from Gurranabraher in Cork city passed away on Thursday of a suspected overdose, just days after his 36-year-old brother Damien died in a flat in Cardiff.

Damien had moved there in 2019 to escape the drugs scene in his native Cork.

Their mother Christine Kavanagh also lost her 31-year-old son Leon in 2021 after he succumbed to drug addiction. In 2016 her son Ross, also 31, collapsed and died of an epilepsy-related condition.

Ms Kavanagh told Opinion Line Producer, Paul Byrne, on Cork’s 96FM that she has been through more heartache than any parent should have to go through.

She said: “They (dealers) have to stop dealing these dirty drugs to our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. (I got the call about Dillon) last night at about quarter to eleven.

"It is not fair for a mum, a dad, a sister or a brother to bury another brother or a son. There should be more help out there. More services for them (people suffering from addiction).

"Dillon was a lovely son. Very educated but when he went down that road with those dirty drugs it just took Dillon away from us. Dillon was back home with us (in Gurranabraher) two weeks ago when Damien passed away.”

Christine thanked her family and local community for the support she had received, particularly in the last fortnight after she mourns her two sons.

She continued: "I have fantastic support from our two families. The family of their Dad and all my family and friends and work and everywhere. The support we are getting is fantastic for me.

"But there is not enough support for addicts. I would like to stop these drug dealers giving drugs and taking our children. These dirty drugs are after killing my son. My (three) sons. My (other) poor Ross died from epilepsy.

"If any (dealer) can hear my voice this morning please stop doing it. It just has to stop."