JEMMA COLEMAN read a victim impact statement which had been written in collaboration with her family. She said that there were no words to describe how the death of Patrick had affected the family but their lives had been changed forever.
Ms Coleman said Patrick (34) was the second of five children and was “kind, loving, generous and silly and gave the best hugs”. Her son treated everyone as an equal and never judged others. His attitude to life was “don’t worry, be happy”.
He had a “tremendous love of nature” and was a keen gardener and enthusiastic fisherman, she added. Patrick had made a good life for himself in Limerick, was a hard worker and very happy.
Outside court his father said: “Today we’ve got justice for Pat’s death. It will never bring our beloved Pat back but we feel we have a measure of justice and now may be able to mourn his loss. We’ll never be the family we were, our lives have changed forever. His children’s lives – they will never have a father for the rest of their lives.
“The successful outcome we had today was totally due to the team and officers in Limerick under the supervision of Frank O’Brien, because without them and the painstaking work they did to leave no stone unturned, that’s how we got our result today.”
Mr Coleman added: “As victims and families of victims we have no say and we have no word so our victim impact statement today gave me that right.
“We’ll remember Pat as being funny, lovely and happy. He always said ‘my name is Pat, but my friends call me Happy’ and that’s the way he led his life – happy, free and enjoying life.
“He loved his daughters to bits, there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for them and they have such beautiful memories of him.
“Also today I think we should give hope to other families because we got justice today.”