Thousands turn out to mourn as siblings laid to rest
Danny Adballah (left) kisses one of his children's coffins, while his daughter stands besides him. Photo: AAP
Employees of Danny Abdallah have formed a guard of honour to pay tribute to his three children who were run down on a footpath and killed by an alleged drink-driver as they went for ice cream in Sydney’s west.
Abdallah siblings Sienna, 8, Angelina, 12, and Antony, 13, died at the scene in Oatlands on Saturday, February 1, alongside their 11-year-old cousin Veronique Sakr.
They had been in a group of six youngsters who were struck when they were walking on a footpath with a babysitter on Saturday, February 1. Another 11-year-old was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while two more girls – aged 10 and 13 – suffered minor injuries.
Wearing white polo shirts emblazoned with the logo of Mr Abdallah’s construction business, hundreds of men and women linked arms to line the driveway of Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park on Monday.
Angelina, 12, Sienna, 9, Antony, 13 and Veronique, 11 were all killed.
About 2000 people filled the church and lined the courtyard – some holding white roses and wearing pins with photos of the Abdallah siblings – as white hearses arrived.
Drummers from the Kings School, which Antony attended, led the procession into the church, followed by Mr Abdallah and wife Leila Geagea.
Bells tolled as pallbearers – wearing navy suits with pink shirts to represent the children’s genders – carried the coffins into the church.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Jenny Morrison – wife of Prime Minister Scott Morrison – were among those at the service.
A representative for the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Joseph Aoun, was also there.
A contingent of about 100 students from the Kings School and Tara Anglican School – which Sienna and Angelina attended – were also at the service.
The children’s mother, Leila Geagea (right), at the scene of their deaths. Photo: AAP
Hundreds of people have visited the Oatlands crash site since the tragedy to pay their respects and lay flowers.
Samuel William Davidson, 29, was allegedly three times the legal blood alcohol limit when he drove into the children.
He’s been charged with 20 offences including four counts of manslaughter and is due to next appear in court in April.
A funeral service for Veronique is scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Santa Sabina college chapel in Strathfield.
-with AAP