Patrick Clancy, whose three children were killed by his former wife, Lindsay Clancy, has explained why he chose to forgive her despite her never asking for his forgiveness.
In his first televised interview since Lindsay’s murder trial ended in a mistrial, Patrick told CBS News’ 60 Minutes that he believed mental illness was responsible for the deaths of their children.
Asked by correspondent Ross Douthat whether Lindsay had ever sought his forgiveness, Patrick replied: “No. But I gave it to her.”
Patrick said he had seen headlines describing Lindsay as a “Killer Mom”, “Baby Murderer” and “Monster”, but rejected those descriptions.
“None of ’em were accurate,” he said, adding that he believed “it was her mental illness that caused that”.
He also said forgiveness was important for his own ability to cope with the tragedy.
“I think when it comes to forgiveness, I also felt that if I didn’t get there, I would be eaten up inside forever,” Patrick said.
CBS News published the interview transcript on Sunday, September 20, following the broadcast of the 60 Minutes programme. The interview came after Lindsay’s trial ended with a hung jury and a judge declared a mistrial.
The couple’s three children — Cora, Dawson and Callan — died after Lindsay attacked them at their Massachusetts home on January 24, 2023.
Patrick recalled returning home that day and finding Lindsay in the backyard after she had jumped from an upstairs window. He then discovered the children in the basement.
Cora and Dawson died at the scene, while Callan, who was eight months old, was taken to Boston Children’s Hospital.
Patrick said Callan survived for four days.
“I got to hold him. I got to lay down next to him. And he died in my arms,” he said.
During those four days, Patrick said he wrote tributes to each of his children while holding Callan’s hand.
He also spoke about his mental state following the deaths, revealing how deeply the tragedy affected him.
“There was a time where I didn’t think I would live to see my 35th birthday,” he told 60 Minutes. “And I was completely fine with it.”
Patrick said he eventually sought help from survivors and experts in postpartum mental health as he tried to understand what had happened.
He also addressed conspiracy theories that emerged online during Lindsay’s trial, including claims questioning his involvement in the deaths.
