"Without the loss of my sister Gabrielle and this scheme I would not be here today. I am told that my arrival brought great joy to my parents and my extended family of grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The greatest gift is life."

"I'll let my Dad tell the story from here."

"Dominic’s Mum and I were married in July '96. During Eileen’s first pregnancy, through the autumn and Winter '98 to '99 all went well. She did not seem to experience any of the challenges some girls do. Every appointment Eileen had at the hospital I tried to attend. I wanted to be involved from the start.

I am sure that there is no significance but unfortunately on the day she was to have the 36 weeks check up, I was not able to go with my wife due to a business appointment in Warwick.During that appointment my mobile rang I answered and noticed it was my wife’s number. However, the voice at the other end was not. I do not recall who it was I was talking to but I was encouraged to come to the hospital to join my wife.

To cut along story short, we learnt that the baby Eileen was carrying, our first child, Gabrielle Lucy, would be born asleep. We were later advised that she had Down’s syndrome. I will leave to the reader’s imagination the feelings, thoughts and observations that you make at a time like this. Suffice to say I would not wish it on anyone. However, without our faith as Catholics, I do not believe that we would have coped . . .