Christine Kavanagh mourns her son Damien, who passed away in Wales, as a charity helps bring him back to Cork
Cork: Christine Kavanagh is heartbroken after losing her son Damien, her third child to pass away. He died in Wales, and now his body is being brought back to Ireland.
Damien was just 36 when he was found in his flat. He had moved to Wales in 2019, hoping for a fresh start after battling drug issues back in Cork.
This is a tough time for Christine, who has already lost two sons. Ross died in 2016, and Leon passed away just five years later. It’s unimaginable to go through this again.
Christine shared her pain, saying, “I don’t think I could take any more. My heart is broken.” She spoke to a local radio show, expressing how crushed she feels.
She reminisced about Damien’s life, mentioning how he had turned things around in Wales. “He got clean and had a beautiful apartment,” she said, but sadly, she never got to visit him there.
They had plans for her to see him this month, and she often told him she would come over. He would laugh and say, “Mam, you always say that.”
Now, with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, Damien’s body will be brought back to Cork. This charity helps families like Christine’s after losing loved ones abroad.
Christine had spoken to Damien just before his death. They shared a laugh when she told him about getting Botox, and he joked about her age.
Her other son, Dylan, has also faced struggles with drugs and recently survived an overdose. When she got the call about Damien, she feared it was Dylan who had died.
Leon had his own battles, including homelessness. Christine once gave him money on the street, and he didn’t even recognize her.
Despite his struggles, Damien had made significant progress, moving from heroin to methadone and getting clean. Christine said he was thriving in Wales.
The cause of Damien’s death is still unknown. Before he passed, he told Christine she was “the strongest woman” he knew, and she’s grateful for all the support she’s received.
Colin Bell, who runs the repatriation trust, assured Christine that they would help bring her son home. The trust has helped many families since its founding in 2013.
In 2024 alone, they managed 297 repatriations, including one for a Cork father who died in Greece. If you want to help, you can donate to the trust online.
