Dad who took his own life days before Christmas after benefits stopped left granddaughter gift

25.12.2022 - 20:17 / dailyrecord.co.uk

A heartbroken daughter whose dad took his own life days before Christmas after his benefits were stopped has spoken of his thoughtfulness, as he ordered presents for his grandchildren before his death.

Kevin Dooley ordered walkie-talkies for his daughter Leanne and her eldest child Cara. Leanne believes the Christmas presents were Kevin's was his way of keeping in touch after he died.

The father-of-three was 48 when he took his own life after his benefits were stopped, in December 2018. Sadly, Leanne discovered his body, and had seen him just hours earlier that day, the Mirror reports.

Leanne, who is mum to bravely went on to celebrate Christmas for the sake of her young daughters - and now remembers her father each Christmas with a tribute bauble on her tree.

Leanne met the Shadow Home Secretary in Parliament last month to plead for changes in the way that disabled claimants are treated by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Leanne, mum to Cara, 12, Scarlet, 10 and Willow, two, said: "On the day my dad hung himself, I visited him, but I was in a real hurry because it was coming up to Christmas and I'd been at work and was rushing to collect my children from school.

"I didn't hug him or tell him I loved him. That will haunt me always. Hours later I went back to discover he had hung himself. I hope everyone who reads my story hugs the people they love this Christmas. You never know when you will run out of time.

"After Dad died, I discovered he had ordered presents for my daughters, walkie-talkies, to be delivered to my house. I like to think it was his way of keeping in touch from heaven."

Kevin was a devoted father and a fit and healthy man when he was younger. He was a painter and decorator and great at DIY.

Leanne, who