Devastated husband of ann maguire says i can no longer be a dad

 

The Co Cavan-born husband of the teacher brutally murdered in Leeds earlier this year has spoken movingly of her tragic death, after a court sentenced her teenage killer 20 years.
Don Maguire is originally from Cootehill and met Ann in 1972, they fell in love, got married and had two daughters.
Ann was murdered in April by a pupil, Will Cornick, in a classroom at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, where the 61-year-old had taught for 40 years.
Cornick (16) had told other students of his intent to murder and was sentenced yesterday to 20 years.
In a victim impact statement Mr Maguire said: “I’m still a dad but cannot help my children understand, cannot help them come to terms, cannot help them lessen the pain. Mummy would have been so much better.”
He said he felt so devastated that he could “no longer be a dad” to his daughters, Kerry and Emma, after the murder.
“Out of the blue, Ann was attacked with a knife and murdered,” he said. “This was a monumental act of cowardice and evil carried out in front of the class. The callous cruelty displayed defies comprehension. There was no thought for others, for anyone except for self.
“The pain, brutality, shock and horror endured by Ann at the time... What a dreadful place. We shall never know why but if age bars the full responsibility, who owns the missing part?
“Ann was a beautiful, vivacious, caring, generous human being... I am still a dad but I cannot help my children understand; can’t help them come to terms; can’t help lessen the pain. Mummy would have been much better. I can no longer be a dad. I fail every day. I need Ann,” he said.

Don Maguire’s statement in full:
“As a young girl Ann visited the sick and helped the elderly in her local community.

“The hundreds or maybe thousands of wonderful tributes paid to her over the months are testament to the person Ann Maguire.

“The guidance for preparing a victim impact statement advises to avoid turning the victim of the crime into a kind of saint.

“Such advice does not apply in this case.

“Ann was a 61-year-old lady, 5ft two-and-a-half inches tall and weighed eight-and-a-half stone.

“On April 28 this year she was teaching a year 11 class in preparation for their exams just as she had done many times over her 40-year teaching career.

“Out of the blue, Ann was attacked with a knife and murdered. This was a monumental act of cowardice and evil carried out in front of the class.

“The callous cruelty displayed defies comprehension. There was no thought for others, for anyone except for self.

“The pain, brutality, shock and horror endured by Ann at the time... What a dreadful place. “We shall never know why but if age bars the full responsibility, who owns the missing part?

“Ann was a beautiful, vivacious, caring, generous human being. She was unique among peers and family.

“We met and fell in love in the spring of 1972. We were a very quiet private couple, constantly dreaming of a rural backwater but the world seemed to shatter our hopes at regular intervals. Now all dreams have gone forever.

“I am still a dad but I cannot help my children understand; can’t help them come to terms; can’t help lessen the pain.

“Mummy would have been much better. I can no longer be a dad. I fail every day. I need Ann.

“Parts of our lives have been brutally taken. The centre of our lives is missing. Our very being has been diminished. Facing the world is very difficult. Facing one’s self is very difficult.

“Days are diminished and difficult. Special days will be especially so: Mother’s Day, Easter Day, Christmas Day, birthdays.

“We shall be left with anniversaries of sadness. There will be no closure. Balance will not return. No level scales. No end. For some there will be memories of past times or special occasions.

“For my children and me today is missing. There is an everyday part of ourselves gone. Present and future are but words.”