The father who crashed his car into a tree, sparking a fireball that killed
him and his two children, had breached a court order and had a history of
psychiatric illness, his ex-wife and mother of the children has said.
On Sunday afternoon a Holden Commodore owned and driven by Glen Richard Dillon burst into flames after it left the road and crashed into a tree about 8km north of Jarrahdale Road.
Police refused to confirm speculation that the crash was a murder-suicide, following reports the father may have deliberately driven into a large pine tree.
Police examine the wreckage of the car following the fiery crash on Albany Highway. Photo: Channel 10
Police examine the wreckage of the car following the fiery crash on Albany Highway. Photo: Channel 10
Police examine the wreckage of the car following the fiery crash on Albany Highway. Photo: Channel 10
Police examine the wreckage of the car following the fiery crash on Albany Highway. Photo: Channel 10
The victims – Mr Dillon, 45, his six-year-old daughter Charlotte Rose Dillon and her brother Alexander Richard Dillon, 5 - were so badly burnt that police had to use DNA testing to formally identify them.
Today, Lachlan Henderson, the brother-in-law of the children's mother, Susanne Dillon, read a statement on her behalf.
"At the time of my children's death my ex-husband was in breach of a court
order requiring his access visits to be supervised by a responsible adult," Ms
Dillon had written.
"Unfortunately, the tragedy was the culmination of protracted Family Court custody proceedings over the last two-and-a-half years.
"I, as well as others, had ongoing concerns - expressed to the Family Court - about my ex-husband's mental stability and the children's safety when in his car because of his history of psychiatric illness."
Ms Dillon thanked her family and friends, the children's school and police for their "unwavering support".
"I'm devastated by the loss of my precious children Charlotte and Alexander," she wrote.
"They were my whole world and I will always miss them.
"Despite every effort and every Family Court order I was not able to protect
my beloved children.
"I hope lessons can be learned from this tragedy."
Commentary by the Ottawa Mens Centre
The mother put this very diplomatically. Courts cannot and should "basket case" all family law matters.
A legal presumption for equal parenting cannot override obvious child protection issues such as all the symptoms of a mental health
problem.
Mental instability is often the subject of false allegations, the problem is, it normally affects women five times the rate that it affects men.
When there are serious allegations, of mental health problems, the courts need to carefully examine those allegations to determine
if there is any truth by extremely through and highly qualified mental health assessments. Often the person making the allegation has
a mental health problem themselves.
Hopefully, the courts will learn not to place mental health concerns in a the taboo , too difficult to deal with problem.
If only the courts had listened to this mother's concerns.
May they rest in peace.