Chada mother awarded €77,690 over sons’ deaths

The wife of a man jailed for life for the murder of their two young sons has obtained a High Court judgment of €77,690 against her husband over the children's deaths.

Kathleen Chada, a clinic manager, of Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, sued Sanjeev Chada (45), whose address was given as Arbour Hill Prison in Dublin.

Ms Chada sued him for assault, battery and trespass on the person causing the deaths of Eoghan (10) and Ruairí (5) Chada at Skehanagh Lower, Ballintubber, Co Mayo, in late July 2013.

He was jailed for life in October 2014 after pleading guilty to the murders.

The Central Criminal Court heard the boys' bodies were discovered in the boot of Chada's car on July 29th, 2013, after it had crashed into a wall near Westport with him in the driver's seat.

Chada, who had run up gambling debts, told his wife he was taking their sons bowling in Carlow but instead drove to Mayo where he strangled the boys before trying to kill himself.

The court also heard Chada had secretly accumulated huge debts from online trading and had borrowed from family and friends and lost large amounts of money. He was €500,000 in debt at one stage from gambling other people’s money.

‘Broken home’

In one note he wrote before the killings, Chada said: “I could not let you bear the pain of being from a broken home.

“Mammy is getting rid of me and I could not leave you behind. I have so much to teach you but I could not do that if I was not with you.

“We will be together now in some way – in the most beautiful country, your mate and Daddy.”

He told gardaí that he killed them “because I love them so much”.

On Monday, Mr Justice Seamus Noonan was told Chada was not contesting the judgment application.

The judge said it was not necessary for Mrs Chada to give evidence. He told her he was “terribly sorry over the tragedy that has befallen your family. It was an unspeakable tragedy and you have my sympathy”.

Mrs Chada thanked the judge.

The court was told the boys' maternal grandparents had waived any claim in relation to the case as had the paternal grandmother who lives in Romford, England.

Mr Justice Noonan was also told a sum for the legal costs had also been agreed.