THE sad, worn eyes are what you would expect of a father who has just lost his son, but a warm smile appears when Damien Sheehy speaks of what he’ll miss most about Daniel.
The Melton South father says he’s lost his best mate.
“I now live with Daniel every day. I believe I speak with him all the time and I believe he’s guiding me through my own strength to keep me going. He’s my hero,” Mr Sheehy said.
He knows hundreds of others are feeling the same anger and grief at having lost Daniel, 18, who died in a Melton South house fire on March 14.
Police investigations continue.
Following rumours of sinister motives behind his son’s death, Mr Sheehy said he wanted the community to be calm.
“I can’t stress it enough: put an end to the rumours. I’m gutted and heartbroken,” he said. “It’s killing me inside. I’m nearly having a breakdown dealing with my son’s death as it is.
“It’s not helping Daniel. He’d be telling them from heaven to back off. Let the police do their investigating. If you’ve got something to say about his death, please come and talk to police.”
Mr Sheehy said he understood people wanted to know the truth of how Daniel died, but he urged residents to let investigations take their course.
“As much as I love all the kids trying to help, it is not their job and I’m asking them to please stay out of it.”
Melton police Detective Senior Sergeant Barry Jenks praised Mr Sheehy’s composure during a difficult time.
“We thank Damien for his support. We know many young people are upset and angry, but we urge them to let the investigation take its course.
“There is an equal possibility of a criminal act or a very tragic accident. But [the arson squad] needs to be given the chance to get to the bottom of that.”
More than 600 people attended Daniel’s funeral in Altona last Tuesday.
A friend, who did not want to be named, said Daniel was a sweet young man with “a very pure heart”.
“He was a man in a little boy’s body. He touched my heart and his spirit lives on.
We can only celebrate the life he lived. Some positive has to come of this, I’m sure.”
Mr Sheehy said Daniel was a spirited young man, who he had affectionately nicknamed ‘General Rhino’.
“When he played football for Rockbank under-16s, he played centre half-back and he’d order the troops where to run; he was like a soldier in some sense,” Mr Sheehy said.
“And he had a heart of gold. He loved his big sister, brothers and nephew.”
The former Staughton College student recently started a certificate III in transport and logistics at The Laurels community college in Bacchus Marsh.
Mr Sheehy said Daniel had planned to propose to his girlfriend on her 18th birthday. “He had so much to live for. He touched too many people’s hearts to go at such a tragic age. It is wrong.”
Mr Sheehy and Daniel shared a love of restoring cars and legal drag racing events. The motor sport community paid tribute to Daniel during an event in Sydney late last month.
“I’ll finish the car we were working on, one day, in his memory,” Mr Sheehy said.
Information to Crime Stoppers, 1800333000 or visit their website here.
