Heartbreak for tragedy-hit family after cash collected for orphaned children stolen in burglary

DONATIONS AND JEWELLERY TAKEN FROM SAFE

- Kristy Dawson

TWO young children who lost their mother, father and teenage brother in less than three years have had their savings stolen in a burglary.

Ronnie-Ray McGuinness, eight, and his little sister True-Mary, seven, from Walker, Newcastle, are being looked after by their grandad after losing their parents.

Their mum Julieann McAllister, 38, died after a short illness on Christmas Eve in 2021. Their dad Ronnie McGuinness, 44, passed away from a heart attack on August 20 last year.

The two children and their older brother Jayden, 16, went to live with Julieann's dad Brian White, 61. Just weeks later, on September 27 last year, Jayden was knocked off his bike and killed by a speeding driver.

Ryan Elsender, 29, of Lichfield Avenue, Walker, was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court in February after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and dangerous driving after the collision.

After Ronnie's sudden death, almost £9,000 was raised for the children's future.

Brian kept the money in a safe in his 82-year-old father's home until he could get official legal guardianship of the children and open bank accounts for them.

He was left devastated when his dad's house in Walker was broken into on October 3. All of the money was stolen as well as precious jewellery which belonged to Ronnie and Jayden.

Two people, a man in his 50s and a woman in her 30s, were arrested by police on suspicion of burglary. They have both been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Ronnie's cousin Debbie Bell raised the money for the children last year. The 43-year-old has now been forced to start all over again and has created a second Go Fund Me page.