Dad whose three kids were killed by drunk-driver comes face to face with man responsible

A dad who lost three of his kids in a horror drunk driving accident has opened up about the moment he met their killer.

Danny Abdallah had his world turned upside down in February 2020 when three of his children were killed in a tragic accident.

Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and Sienna, eight, were walking with their cousin Veronique, 11, when they were struck down.

Samuel Davidson had been under the influence of drugs and alcohol when his car veered onto the footpath of the Sydney suburb and killed all four children.

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He is now serving a 20-year jail sentence.

The Abdallahs will be addressing 500 people gathering at the Australian National Prayer Breakfast on Monday.

They are still in contact with the driver.

Danny has visited Davidson in prison, whilst his wife Leila has plans to.

Danny was unsure of the encounter would go down, but was ultimately moved by Davidson's remorse.

"I shook his hand and he just fell to his knees, put his head on the floor and said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry I took your kids,'" he said.

"He was crying and I was crying - you just see nobody won in this.

"I was at a crossroads in my life and the hardest question as a parent is you can lose your whole family with bitterness and seek revenge, or you can keep half of your family and find forgiveness."

As well as the three children who tragically died in the crash, Danny is dad to Liana, Alex, Michael, and welcomed a baby girl named Selina last year.

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Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has become close with the Abdallahs, has also spoken on how difficult the experience was.

Speaking on the heartbreaking day, Morrison said: "I'll never forget that day... my dear friends Danny and Leila Abdallah and Bridget Sakr lost their kids in that terrible accident over in Oatlands.

"They had every right to be furious, they had every right to be vindictive, they had every right to lash out and they chose a different path.

"And I know why they did because we share the same faith."

Morrison wasn't the only person in awe of the parents' ability to forgive.

Since the tragedy, the couple set up the i4give Foundation to remember their loved ones and help others in similar dire circumstances.

The Oatlands Golf Club have also agreed to set up a memorial at the scene of the crash.

It's expected to be up by Christmas, which the family hope will bring them 'closure'.

Topics: Australia, World News, Crime

Ben Thompson