Terminally ill dad in desperate ‘better to lose a friend than bury one’ plea to teens after son’s solvent abuse death
A TERMINALLY ill father who lost his son to solvent abuse a year ago has issued a dying plea to teenagers to stop inhaling gases.
With just weeks, maybe months to live, Dermot Maguire’s last wish is to try and save another family going through the same pain as his family have suffered in the last year.
Dermot, his wife Yvonne and his family were left devastated when their 14-year-old son Daniel died after inhaling deodorant fumes one year ago this Sunday.
Daniel’s younger brother Andrew, 14, has since bravely spoken out passionately in his grief, telling his peers that no high is worth the pain they have been plunged into.
Heartbreakingly, just five weeks after Daniel’s death, his dad Dermot was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent gruelling treatment which was initially successful.
Tragically, the cancer returned and facing his final months, the incredibly brave man is intent on trying to save someone else’s child with a plea to kids to stay away from solvents.
The hugely popular bus driver from Huntstown, Dublin 15 is also urging the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education for more training and awareness on solvent abuse to be rolled out in schools.
Ahead of Daniel’s first anniversary on September 27th, his terminally ill father said that his dying wish would be to get teenagers to realise how dangerous inhaling solvents is.
“This is still going on and it’s still a problem that no-one seems to be highlighting. I want teenagers to talk to each other and speak out if they see someone who is abusing solvents.
“Teenagers listen to each other faster than they listen to their parents.
“If any of your friends are inhaling aerosols or fast gas, speak out. It’s better to lose a friend than to bury one”.
Dad Dermot has also urged the government to take steps to create awareness on the issue in schools.
On the night of his passing, Dermot had shouted up to his son for the front door key, receiving a reply of no problem.
But when no key was thrown down, Dermot went upstairs 30 seconds later to find Daniel collapsed on his bedroom floor.
The panicked dad and older son Adam began CPR until the emergency services arrived but he tragically died some hours later in hospital.
