Geraldine Mullan pays tribute to her 'beautiful son Tomás’ on his 18th birthday

Geraldine Mullan has paid tribute to her son Tomás on what would have been his 18th birthday.

The Moville woman was the sole survivor when Tomás died along with his sister Amelia, 6, and father John after the family’s car left the road and entered Lough Foyle on the way home to Moville from an excursion to Derry in August 2020.

Marking Tomás’ birthday with a letter to her family in heaven, she said she hoped John and Amelia “are spoiling you up in heaven, and there's wonderful celebrations”.

The nurse, who has set up the Mullan Hope Centre in memory of her family, said she spent Tomás’ birthday on Wednesday swimming, visiting his classmates and spending time with family and friends.

“Since I don’t get to give you a birthday card Tomás, here's a few words to let you know how much I love and miss you all,” she said in the published letter.

“On the 10th April 2006 at 10.48pm, I got the greatest gift of all by becoming a mum for the first time... you, my beautiful son Tomás made your entrance, and from that very first moment, you captured my heart.”

Amelia’s Flight of HOPE attracts thousands of visitors

The event was held at the Mullan HOPE centre in Moville in remembrance of Amelia Mullan and was organised by her mother Geraldine to raise vital funds for the RNLI

The Mullan household always loved birthdays and they would be celebrated with “cake, balloons,  party banners,” she said.  

“John sweetheart, you'd made sure our birthdays were celebrated in style...it wasn't just a birth-day, it was a birthday month!!!

“Today, my dearest Tomás, (TT) was not how I imagined we'd be celebrating your 18th birthday, but when I close my eyes, all four of us are together celebrating it together.”

She told how she visited the grave of her family and spent time “chatting to you all and laid flowers for you there”.

“Happy heavenly 18th birthday, my beautiful son Tomás, thank you for the unconditional love you always gave me.”

Geraldine is marking Tomás’ birthday this Sunday, April 14 with a 5km fun run/walk at 11am leaving from and finishing at The Mullan Hope Centre in Moville. All proceeds go to Children in Crossfire.