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Michelle O’Donoghue at home with the couple’s young daughter Shannon |
‘I want to know why Shannon’s dad died at work’
Agony of the family left behind following tragic building site death of young carpenter
THE heartbroken fiancée of a carpenter who was crushed to death when a five-tonne crane toppled over has demanded to know why he was killed doing his job.
Michelle O’Donoghue had been planning to marry her partner of 10 years, Craig Page.
Instead, next Friday she will be attending the funeral of the father of her 14-month-old toddler, Shannon.
Craig, 26, was crushed to death by the boom arm of a crane last Friday as he worked on a building site in Hampstead.
Speaking from their home in Caledonian Road, Barnsbury, Michelle, 29, said: “I just want answers. I just want to know who, what took Shannon’s dad away.
“Shannon’s not going to know her dad. I’d give up anything except her to have him back, but it’s not going to happen.”
Michelle said Craig told her he had witnessed a number of accidents during his career and always feared it could happen to him.
Speaking at the opening of Craig’s inquest on Tuesday, Health and Safety Executive official Sarah Snelling told St Pancras Coroner’s Court: “The crane tipped over, the reason is not clear.
“The police have taken the crane for examination.
“We are looking at whether Mr Page was directing the crane. We can’t say exactly at the moment [what the investigation is].”
Tony O’Brien, of the Construction Safety Campaign, said there had been a big increase in the number of accidents involving cranes.
Craig was a football fanatic and amateur fisherman.
“He has been my shadow ever since we met,” said Michelle of the man she called “Craigy”.
“The first thing he said when he came home from work was always: ‘Hello twinkle, have you had a good day?’
“He was my best friend, soul-mate, everything. He was a big friendly giant who would do anything for anyone.
“He loved being a dad. Shannon’s the spitting image of him.”
The couple met after Craig pestered a friend for Michelle’s phone number. They first met on January 14, 1998 – also the date of their daughter’s birthday 10 years later – outside Argos in Holloway Road.
“We’ve been inseparable ever since,” she said.
Craig went to Holloway Boys’ School before training as a carpenter, aged 16, in Finsbury Park.
“He loved wood and would make anything. If there was a spare bit of wood he’d make something out of it,” added Michelle.
Last night (Thursday) a neighbour’s young son sent pennies over to Michelle with the message: “I’ve heard you can buy sweets in heaven. I want Craig to have some sweets.”
Work on the multi-million pound site has been suspended pending the investigation. Craig’s inquest has been scheduled for autumn.
His funeral will take place at 10am on Friday, March 20 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Copenhagen Street, Barnsbury. |
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