Louise James when her solicitor read out a statement to the press. (North West Newspix)
HEARTBROKEN Louise James has paid an emotional tribute to her late partner Sean McGrotty saying he lived and died for his family.
The devastated Derry mum who lost her partner, two sons, sister and mother in the Buncrana Pier tragedy said she would never forget her family.
She said that withstanding the evidence given in relation to her partner, he was a loving and kind man.
She said: “Regarding Sean, not withstanding the evidence that has emerged. I wish to add that he was a wonderful partner to me and an adoring father to his children.
“He lived for them and it is clear from what this inquest has heard, that he in fact, died as he lived; in that he could have saved himself but chose not to.”
The inquest had heard earlier that Mr McGrotty was three times over the legal drink drive when his family jeep slid into the freezing waters of Lough Swilly.
Ms McGrotty was returning from a hen party in Liverpool when she heard the horrific news that several members of her family had been killed tragically.
Louise fought back tears as she stood in bitter coldness outside the Lake of Shadows Hotel where she had heard gut-wrenching evidence of the last moments of her loved ones lives over the past two days.
The Derry woman spoke through her solicitor after a two-day inquest into the deaths of the five who perished when their Audi Q7 jeep slid off the slipway at Buncrana Pier.
Solicitor Mr Robert Anderson said Louise was making a statement in the hope that she would live her life as best she could.
Louise said that it is with a heavy heart and great sadness that she had listened to the evidence that has emerged during the inquest.
She said: “There are simply no words to express my pain, my disbelief and indeed my anger over what happened on that fateful day.
“My heart is shattered.
“Every moment of every day is filled with thoughts of my beautiful boys Mark and Evan, my mother Ruth, my sister Jodi Lee and my partner Sean.
“The one ray of sunshine in my life is my beautiful daughter Rionaghac who survived this horrible tragedy and for that I must once again thank Davitt and those others who helped to save her on the day,” she said.
Louise said the slipway at Buncrana Pier should never have been opened on the day in March, 2016 when the accident happened.
“I firmly believe that the slipway should have been closed to the general public or else proper warning signs displayed as it was an accident waiting to happen.
“Hopefully lessons will be learned and the recommendations made following this inquest will be implemented.”
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