A MUM whose husband killed their two young daughters and then took his own life has called for changes to the Mental Health Act.
Una Butler’s husband John killed their their young girls Ella, 6 and Zoe, 2 on November 16, 2010.
3
3
3
The 41-year-old then ended his own life by crashing a car which burst into flames when it hit a ditch, not far from their home.
Una, from Ballycotton, Co Cork has spent over a decade campaigning for changes in the care of vulnerable persons.
In an interview on Today with Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1, she said that she was tired of “banging on doors” trying to get change implemented in relation to mental health.
She hopes for provisions to be made in the Mental Health Act to allow a partner or spouse to be involved in the treatment of a family member suffering with mental illness, especially if children live in the home.
She said: “In 2010 when my husband killed my two children he was suffering with his mental health.
“I believe looking back on it that had I been involved in the treatment of my husband that the medical professionals would have had a greater insight in to his behaviours.
“I felt he was treated in isolation as if he lived alone. Why is it (mental health) treated differently to somebody that breaks a leg?
“The year before he killed Zoe and Ella he was having treatment for his mental health. I had two small children.”
Most read in The Irish Sun
She added: “I left everything up to the medical professionals and let them treat him.
“I believe the health professionals solely relied on what my husband told them. I would have given them a different insight in to his behaviours at home.
“No consideration is given to the environmental surroundings of a person that suffers from their mental health. Where was the welfare of my children?”
Una said it is vital that spouses or partners be involved in the treatment of the family member suffering with their mental health in order to help to prevent further cases of filicide from occurring, as doctors do not have to disclose any information to that partner unless its part of medical counsel.
She said: “I believe children are disregarded (in these situations).”
