Tears flowed along the banks of the River Foyle in Derry earlier today as the heartbroken mother of missing Derry teenager Andrew Quigley told of how the “door was shut in his face” in his attempt to beat a drug and alcohol addiction.
Collette Quigley speaking at today’s rally.
Collette Quigley was speaking publicly for the first time as the search for her only child entered a second week.
The tragic 19-year-old has not been seen since since leaving a friend’s birthday party in the city in the early hours of Saturday morning last.
A search of the River Foyle has been ongoing since some of his personal items were found on Foyle Bridge at 7.40am later that same day.
His family have revealed he had been struggling with drug and alcohol problems and was told he would have to come off drugs before he could be helped.
His mother was speaking at a rally held at Derry’s Peace Bridge in support for two lifesaving local charities – Foyle Search and Rescue (FS&R) and HURT (Have Your Tomorrows) – both of which have been refused government funding.
Andrew Quigley.
In an emotional address to a crowd of several hundred people, Ms Quigley thanked those who had taken part in the search for her son.
Men and women, both old and young, wept openly as she revealed how she told of the unsuccessful attempts to get help for Andrew’s addictions.
She said: “As as a parent, as a mammy, I tried my best. I took him for help but the door was shut in our faces – ‘come back when he is off the drink and drugs’ – he could not get off the drink and drugs, he was addicted.
“I was so naive to think my love alone could pull my son through this. I thought he would get to an age and he would turn a corner – but he never did – and if it happened to me and my family, then it can happen to anyone,
“My heart is beating, the blood is pumping round my body but I feel dead – I feel as if i let him down, because I stick up for other people – and I feel as if Iet him down.
“This place needs something where the wains can go – because that’s all they are. He might have been 6’3” but he was only a child with a brilliant life in front of him and that life got destroyed. He had his own wee problems. The last four years has not been easy with one thing and another and he took it all on his shulders and his only escape was to take drugs.”
She concluded: “I am just so sorry, Andrew, I am so sorry that I let you slip through my fingers I should have beat in doors!”
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