The sister of three children killed in their Tallaght home has revealed that she and her mother will never return to the house following the tragedy.
Speaking for the first time since her sister Lisa, 18, and her twin siblings Christy and Chelsea Cawley, 8, died last month, a heartbroken Margaret Cash also said: “We’ll never accept what happened to them.
“It’s very hard.We’re not coping at all and just trying to take it second by second.”
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Margaret’s sisters and brother were discovered dead at their home in Rossfield Avenue in Tallaght on September 4 - and their older brother Andy Cash was later charged with their murder.
Speaking exclusively to this paper, Margaret, 23, revealed that she and her family will never return to that house following the horrors that occurred there.
“We’re moving. It was our home but it’s just with everything that went on there I don’t think it’ll ever be home again.
“It’ll never be home without them,” she said.
Margaret spoke to us after the grieving family of the tragic children allowed us to attend a balloon release at their grave yesterday - marking exactly one month since the tragedy unfolded.
Earlier in the day the devastated family, including the children’s mother Margaret ‘Twink’ Cash McDonagh attended a month’s-mind Mass at St Aidan’s Church in Tallaght.
Young Margaret supported her mother as they sat on a bench in front of the grave surrounded by family and friends - and released balloons into the sky at Bohernabreena cemetery yesterday evening.
The heartbroken family released the balloons in front of a beautifully decorated grave - featuring large photos of the three children and a massive display of flowers.
Speaking to this paper at the grave, Margaret told how she and her brother Mikey, 14, who survived the tragedy, are now doing their best to support their mother through this horrific time.
“Me and Mikey are just trying everything we can to keep her going.
“It’s been hard for her and my son David. He's her grandson, their only nephew.
“Lisa was his Godmother,” she explained.
“We’ll never forget them. We can’t accept it at all.
“All we can do now is try to be close to her (her mother). It was a very big shock. We were very close.”
Margaret explained that her mother, who consented for us to be present, was too upset to speak - but said she wished to convey her thanks to the community - and the gardai who attended the scene.
“She just wants to say thanks to the community, the parishes, schools, everyone that offered their condolences,” she said.
“We’d like to thank the guards, the ambulance and hospital. They did everything they could.
“It just doesn’t even seem real. I don’t think it’s hit us now, never mind in the future.
“All we can do is try to move on with our lives. But it is very hard.”
Margaret added that the family wanted to personally thank RTE presenter Ryan Tubridy for his words on radio - and for his attendance at the scene in the days that followed, where he paid his respects.
“We’re trying to get in contact with Ryan Tubridy. We just want to say a big thanks to him. It meant a lot.
“They loved the Toy show and watched it every year. We’d all sit down, watch it together, get all matching pyjamas and watch it together.”
Margaret also showed us a beautiful necklace she was wearing which featured a picture of her siblings - a poignant reminder of how much they meant to her.
I was their older sister. “It was always just us. Just the five of us.
“I don’t think (my mother) will ever accept it and neither will we. It was a very very big shock.
“It’ll never be real.
“They didn’t deserve what happened to them. They didn’t deserve to die that way.”
Adding to the sentiments, Nan Cawley, a cousin of the children, told how the family attends the grave almost every day.
“They’ll never be forgotten. We are up here every day. There’s no words to describe it.”
Earlier in the day Fr Paul O’Driscoll, Parish Priest of the Travelling People celebrated the month’s mind Mass at St Aidan’s church.
The children’s mother was supported by her close family and friends, as well as many members of the community who came to give their support.
Pictures of Lisa, Christy and Chelsea were placed at the altar, as were balloons and flowers honouring their memory.
At the end of the Mass a young girl gave a moving speech about her friends Christy, Chelsea and Lisa.
“To Christy, Chelsea and Lisa, our three angels.
“Chelsea, I will always have the best memories with you. You went to heaven before your time,” she said.
She also spoke about how Christy was “always a protective brother” and now he is looking down and minding us as we pray.
“We’ll never forget yous. We will always mind baby David for you because we know how much he means to yous,” she added.
“I know you are back with your Daddy. I love you so much, my best friends forever.”
The children’s older brother Andy Cash, 24, remains on remand in prison charged with their murder.
Mr Cash last appeared in court on September 9, where he was further remanded into custody.
He appeared before Cloverhill District Court via video link from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise - and did not comment when asked to confirm his name.
He is set to appear before the court again on October 6 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In an earlier court appearance a solicitor for Mr Cash stated that he would be seeking a psychological assessment for his client.
During the children’s funerals earlier this month, the congregation were told that Lisa Cash's eight-year-old siblings Chelsea and Christy Cawley were her "whole life" and that she was the "mammy" of her friend group.
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