The heartbroken mother of a teenage son who took his own life has slammed the Covid-19 lockdown and urged parents not to waste time with their children and take them for granted, reports The Mirror.
The sudden death of 14-year-old Ryan Whelan Griffin at his home in Duleek, Co Meath last year shocked the community and devastated his family.
His parents Rebecca and Shane and younger brother Dylan are still desperately searching for answers they will likely never get about the cause of their energetic and popular favourite son and brother’s death.
Since his death on February 2, 2022, Rebecca has been raising funds to thank Pieta House for all the help during this sad time, and has also sent her immense gratitude to the people of Duleek who have dropped off food and cards at their homes.
As Rebecca prepares to head to Pieta House this weekend, she urges parents not to take time with their children for granted and to listen to them more.
Ryan, who was a second year student at Drogheda Grammar School and an avid Drogheda United fan, was well known in the village for his love of his “best friend” and dog Bailey.
Indeed, following his departure, the Premier division side were among those to pay tribute to one of their “great young fans”. “We don’t know what happened Ryan and we will probably never know,” said his mum Rebecca, reports The Mirror.
“I think it was a moment of madness. I think children live in the moment and never take time to see that there is a way out of everything. I went through all his possessions, looking for answers, even his phone and I found nothing. To be honest I was shocked at the amount of friends that he did have when I went through his friend groups on the phone. Ryan was a bundle of fun, very outgoing, very caring and very deep. He hated to upset anyone. We are all struggling through every day now. Dylan started secondary school and I really found that emotional,” his mum said, reports The Mirror.
“Shane continued coaching the U16 soccer team in Duleek with which Ryan had been playing since he was about seven years old. The team mates have taken it so hard too. He was so popular, his death has caused ripples of sadness out to so many people and places The house is really quiet, the dog pines for him. It’s just so tough. Ryan was so well known around the village with his dog Bailey that when he died, people who didn’t know us and only knew Ryan because he was always out with Bailey, were leaving dog biscuits on our doorstep,” she added, reports The Mirror.
This year Rebecca launched a ‘dark to light’ campaign for Pieta House – the route her boys used to walk at the Bailey – which will be made an official route next year.
“Pieta House was a huge support to us. They offered us and the boys in the football team counselling and talks and provided the family with a bereavement liaison officer who went above and beyond to see what we needed. “I’m raising money now for the charity so no other family has to feel like we do. I don’t know what went on in Ryan’s head but if there was anything and he had told me, I would have got him counselling,” reports The Mirror.
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