'Please donate': Derry family's Halloween home in honour of late son

A family in Derry have decorated their home in Halloween decorations in honour of their son’s memory and is accepting donations for Epilepsy Action.

John and Orla O’Hagan lost their son Peter to epilepsy five years ago, just 16 months after being diagnosed.

He passed away from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

They decided to do a collection box this year as Epilepsy Action provided them with huge support following Peter’s death.

The charity is “always there,” and the O’Hagan family has raised money for it in the past, but decided to take a different route this year.

Peter loved Halloween, which is why his parents decided to decorate their home for the occasion in his honour.

The house, which is on Liscloon Drive in Shantallow, was decorated by John.

“It took three days,” John said.

He did it by himself, with the donation box left beside the clown in the garden.

The children in the area have been loving walking past the house every morning before school.

“Everybody stops to look at it and then heads on to school... That’s what it’s all about,” John said.

Peter’s friends, who are now in their twenties and working, are expected to visit the house to see the decorations over the weekend.

The family added that they are aware it’s an expensive time of year, and that there is no obligation on people to donate large amounts.

“We’re not putting pressure on anybody. It’s if you have it, just please donate it,” John said.

“It doesn’t matter how small it is; it helps,” he added.

The decorations and fundraiser come during SUDEP Awareness Month.

It’s a “little-known and seldom-mentioned phenomenon,” according to an article in the New York Times.

Advocates are now calling for all parents of children with epilepsy to be informed about it.

Epilepsy Action is a UK-based charity “dedicated to supporting people with epilepsy, raising awareness, and campaigning for better services and treatment” for those affected by the condition.