Grieving father-of-three receives almost 1,000 letters after admitting struggle with isolation
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Grieving father-of-three receives almost 1,000 letters after admitting struggle with isolation

THE FATHER of three young children who died tragically earlier this year has received almost 1,000 letters from well-wishers after he admitted he was struggling with isolation.

Andrew McGinley suffered every father's worst nightmare in January of this year when he returned from work to find his three beloved children Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) dead in the family home in Dublin.

The children's mother was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.

Andrew has since been keeping his children's memories alive, planning the creation of a children's fun-zone called 'Carla's Kingdom' at her former créche, creating a Youtube channel called 'Conor's Clips' which he had always promised his son, and posting photographs and stories on the Conor's Clips Twitter Page.

It was on this page that last week Andrew admitted he was struggling with the isolation measures implemented by the Government to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Ireland.

On Friday, 27 March, Andrew wrote:
"I'm looking for a favour. I'm struggling with isolation like you all but really missing the company. I was also enjoying most of the letters that I received so I have a request.

"Will you write to me?"

In a handwritten note underneath the message, Andrew wrote "If you want something to do or to give your kids something to do then I'd be delighted to get cards or letters about anything."

He finished the note by writing "You may never know how much this will help me".

Today, just four days later, Andrew revealed that he has received almost one thousand letters from well-wishers across the country and beyond, posting a photograph of some with the caption "I possibly should have thought this through".

Andrew has been spending the day responding to some of the letters via Twitter-- thanking one woman for the scratch card she sent, telling another to ring her mother and advising a little girl that when you adopt an animal from WWF, the animal does not come to your house.

Others living close to Andrew have been leaving gifts such as home-made bread, chocolate, fruit and drinks on his doorstep, which Andrew has now taken to calling his 'magic doormat'.

And with hundreds of letters come hundreds of stamps-- which Andrew is donating to ISPCC Childine, who have requested donations of second-hand stamps to their child protection charity.

Anyone wishing to show support to Mr McGinley can do so by writing to him at Newcastle, Co Dublin, Ireland (Eircode D22VH77), subscribing to Conor's Clips Youtube account or by following Conor's Clips Twitter account here.