Heartbroken dad tells of devastation after son's death

The heartbroken father of Gavin O'Connor, the 22-year-old Kilmainhamwood musician who died following an assault in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, at the weekend told this week how his young friends gathered around his hospital bed in Drogheda in the hours before his death. Gerry O'Connor, Ballinaclose, Kilmainhamwood, said yesterday (Tuesday): "As Gavin's father, I can tell you about us and about Gavin. He was a child who never did anything to anybody. He had a circle of friends from the time he was in nappies in playschool and they remained his friends all through these years. "When they heard what happened to Gavin, they all went to the emergency department of the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and they sat outside all day long," said Gavin's dad. Mr O'Connor added that "when his heart took its last beat at 6.45 last Saturday, they were all beside his bed in the emergency department". Mr O'Connor praised the staff of the hospital for their efforts to save his son's life. "They did everything. They made us tea, they brought water, they consoled us." He said that people had been coming to the family home all day yesterday (Tuesday). "There are people coming to this house, neighbours from near and far. They can't talk. They are just crying. Everybody is devastated," he added. He said that every photograph taken of Gavin always had him at the centre, smiling. "He was a brilliant guitarist - he just lived for music. In fact, it was his life." Mr O'Connor said that his son was about to audition for a Rolling Stones tribute band. "I know he would have got it, too," he said. The young Kilmainhamwood man worked for a time for College Proteins at College Road, Nobber. At one stage, he had developed epileptic spasms and had to lay off work. "While he was undergoing investigations by the doctors, College Proteins were very good to him. They said to him 'when you are ready to come back, your job will be there'". Mr O'Connor said that the family had been inundated with messages. "People are ringing us from Australia and America, that's how popular Gavin was. We are just heartbroken, I don't know how we are going to face it," he added. Gavin died on Saturday evening following an incident which occurred shortly after 5am at Lisdoonan, Carrickmacross, in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was rushed by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, but died there on Saturday evening. A son of Gerard and Helena O'Connor, he was a talented musician who played with local band, Climax. Cllr John Farrelly said the entire community of Kilmainhamwood had been devastated by his death. "It is so sad. Our sympathy goes out to his family. It is terrible that this could happen. God protect all our young people when they go out at night at the weekends," he said. A teenager charged in connection with his death was refused bail on Monday after a court heard he had attempted to escape custody twice. Connor McClelland (19), Cullentrabane, Laragh, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was charged with assault, causing serious harm. Gardai had objected to his bail application at Cavan District Court on the basis that they felt he posed a flight risk. Sgt Anthony Finn told the court McClelland had attempted to evade gardai at his home during his arrest. Detective-Garda Bobby Ogle said the defendant had asked to be let out for fresh air during questioning and had taken flight when they went outside. The defendant told the court he had just freaked out, didn't know what to do and just ran. His parents said they would keep their son under virtual house arrest. Judge Kilraine refused bail due to the seriousness of the charge, the likelihood of a further, more serious charge being brought and because he represented a flight risk. He is due to appear before Carrickmacross Court today (Wednesday).