The mother of Eoghan and Ruairí Chada, Kathleen Chada has spoken about the pain of losing her two children after her husband was handed down two life sentences for their murder yesterday. She described the trial as "short of funeral, it was the most difficult to day I had to go through."

Sanjeev Chada from Ballinkillen, Co Carlow strangled the boys at Ballintubber on July 29th last year.

Kathleen spoke fondly of her children to Pat Kenny: "They were full of life, incredible boys. I know most parents would say that about their children. They were and are special."

She continued: "I am blessed to have been their mother. 

"I have happy memories of the boys and that's all I have."

Speaking about the day in question, Kathleen stated: "Our own relationship at that stage was slightly strange but there was nothing strange about him taking the boys out to go bowling. We would have done a lot of things as a family.

"I started to worry when they hadn't been home by 10pm. It was 11 when I started to really question it and in my head, I had to tell myself I was imagining it.

"I came home and started to do the round of phone calls. Then I called the guards just after 1am.

"Now I don't think it would have made a difference to call any earlier."

Sanjeev himself made the phone call to Kathleen to inform her of what had happened to her sons: "I just went hysterical and handed the phone over. One of the detectives was with me and he handed over the call. I thought if he was alive and able to talk to me, then they had to be alive."

Pat asked whether she had spoken to Sanjeev since the event to which Kathleen replied: "No. I can't. There's nothing to say."

"If he is truly remorseful he will continue to take his punishment and live his life in prison."

She also stated that it would't get any easier: "It won't. I talk about a long road ahead and to be honest, I don't think I've even reached the road yet. I do firmly believe the boys are with me. I have a very strong sense of them around me and with me, particularly in my own home.

"I am lucky that I have happy memories and that is what's getting me through."

Kathleen stated that she didn't think the system failed her: "The support and the dignity that I have been treated with has been incredible. I could not fault the system in any way. It took me a while to consider that I was a victim. There is a system and a process that has to be gone through. Everyone does their best, it's not ideal." 

Here is the interview in full: