Abdallah family launches court action against killer driver Samuel Davidson three years after he mowed down four children in Oatlands crash

The Abdallah family, who lost three of their children and a cousin in the Oatlands tragedy three years ago, have filed a civil suit against the killer, Samuel William Davidson.

The legal action, which is believed to relate to Davidson’s insurance policy, is seeking payment for ongoing trauma to the family and for children who were injured but survived the catastrophic accident. It will be listed in NSW District Court next week.

The parents of the Abdallah children, Danny and Leila, have publicly forgiven Davidson, revealing this week that they have met his parents “who are also suffering.”

Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were walking on a footpath to buy ice cream in Oatlands, western Sydney, when they were hit by a car and killed on February 1, 2020.

Samuel Davison is serving a 20-year sentence after he drove his car into a group of seven children – killing four instantly – while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol

Davidson was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving erratically and speeding when he fatally hit the four children.

Three other children were among the group mowed down by Davidson, all with injuries and trauma.

Davidson, then aged 29, was sentenced to 28 years in 2021 with a non-parole period of 21 years, which was reduced this year on appeal to a maximum of 20 years with a minimum of 15 years.

Danny Abdallah told Daily Mail Australia the lawsuit was “confidential” and related to ongoing therapy and trauma, but would not comment further.

Earlier this week, Mr Abdallah revealed that the driver who killed his children became a Maronite Catholic in prison because of the forgiveness shown by the family.

On a Christian Lives Matter podcast, Mr Abdallah told Stand for Truth broadcaster Charlie Bakhos about the prison conversion Davidson made.

Mr Abdallah, whose family are themselves Maronite Catholics, explained that two people in prison had contacted his spiritual adviser, Father Robert-Pio, claiming that Davidson wanted to meet him.

“Leila and I are talking to him [Fr Robert] a lot,” said Abdallah.

‘[He] is a good guy and feeds the homeless… and there was a homeless person he feeds who ended up in jail and he said to him, “I have a man who wants to meet you.”

“There was another man who called him and said, ‘Look, Father Robert, I’ve got the driver who hit the Abdullah children, he’s in my cell.'”

Mr Abdallah added that the prisoners were unaware that Father Robert was his spiritual adviser, whom he relied on after the tragic death of his children.

‘Of all the priests in Australia, this man talks to Father Robert, my spiritual father, yes, and he doesn’t know that,’ said Mr Abdallah.

‘Well, he [Fr Robert] goes, “I know Abdullah’s parents, I visit them regularly and I talk to them, they come to my church.”

‘[Now] He [Davidson] prays the rosary three times a day, goes to mass, does a Bible study and wants to become a Maronite Catholic.’

Mr Abdallah said he was shocked by Davidson’s change of heart but said it was due to the forgiveness shown by his family

Mr Abdallah (right) spoke to Christian Lives founder Charlie Bakhos (left) on his ‘Stand for Truth’ podcast, revealing that Samuel Davison had a ‘change of mind’

Mr Abdallah said he was ‘shocked’ by Davidson’s change of heart and was told it was due to the forgiveness he and his wife Leila showed.

‘I was shocked. I honestly did not expect at all to hear that Pastor Robert went to see him and spoke to him and that he had made his first confession,” said Mr Abdallah.

‘They spoke and he [Davidson] said, “You know, the whole world should have hated me, but Danny and Leila’s forgiveness allowed me to see life in a different way.”

‘He [Father Robert] he said [Davidson] kept saying how sorry he is and you know what he did was wrong but that’s what changed my heart.”

A brave Mrs. Abdallah returned to the scene two days after the horror crash, where she held hands and prayed a rosary with loved ones, before famously forgiving Davidson for his actions.

‘The man [driver]… Right now I can’t hate him. I don’t want to see him, but I don’t hate him,” she told reporters.

“I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair… I’m not going to hate him because that’s not who we are.”

The pair later set up the i4give Foundation – which coincides with the anniversary of the crash – to memorialize their lost loved ones and help others in similar situations.

Abdallah’s children Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, died instantly in the crash

Witnesses saw Davison run a red light before the crash, swerve counterclockwise on a roundabout, and drive at a speed limit of 83 mph in a 50 mph zone

The Christ-centered foundation aims to engage communities across Australia in a ‘shared embrace of the universal good of forgiveness’.

In June 2022, Danny and Leila received two standing ovations at the Vatican after a powerful speech about forgiveness.

Western Sydney parents were invited by the Pope to share their poignant story with thousands of parishioners at the World Meeting of Families in Rome in 2022.

Mr Abdallah also told Mr Bakhos that he and his wife had spoken to Davison’s parents and discussed the incident over breakfast.

“I was nervous, it was hard for all of us and it was hard for them, but you know… we learned from this that there are no winners in this tragedy,” Abdallah said.

“Samuel Davidson has a mother who is grieving and going through her pain. We wanted to understand and show them that we are hurting and they apologized for their son’s actions.

“I know they lost their daughter to cancer and years later they lost their son now in prison and they have no one.

“They know what we’re going through and they recognize that and we also recognize their grief and pain.”

Despite the loss of three children, she always says seven when Mrs Abdallah, 37, is asked how many children she has: ‘three in heaven and four here’.

Danny and Leila Abdallah forgave Davison and established the i4give Day and Foundation – which coincides with the anniversary of the crash – to remember their lost loved ones and help others in similar situations.