**A mother's fight after losing her son in Air India crash**
Amanda Donaghey's life was shattered when she learned that her son, Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, was among those lost in a tragic Air India crash on June 12. The disaster took 242 lives, leaving behind a single survivor. Fiongal, 39, and his husband Jamie Meek, 45, tragically lost their lives while celebrating their wedding anniversary in India—a testament, really, in its own sad irony, about how deep their love was.
Determined and heartbroken, Amanda traveled from France all over again hoping, at least, bring Fiongal's remains back home in England. She gave a blood DNA sample, praying it would help identify her son. Fiongal and Jamie had wished—one day, in their distant future—to be buried together, as they'd lived.
### A shocking discovery at what should have been a final goodbye
Amanda initially felt relief, albeit small, at having her son's remains home. But that moment was snatched away in a cruel twist: a British coroner found, through additional DNA testing, that it wasn't Fiongal in that coffin. “It was heartbreaking,” she expressed, shaken, as she spoke with The Sunday Times. “We have no idea who this person in that casket could be. It's a nightmare.”
Sadly, Amanda isn't alone. Other grieving families have faced similar mistakes, receiving remains that weren't their loved ones—or even were mixed with others.
In a poignant conversation, Amanda conveyed her ongoing agony: “Every day, we're on calls with Foreign Office, seeking answers. It feels like standing at a cliff's edge, facing a void, wondering if Fiongal's been lost forever.”
### A relentless search and plea
Amanda's drive, fueled by love, remains relentless. “We need Fiongal home so we can lay him beside Jamie,” she said. “We can't move forward without this closure. We don't even know who lies in that casket.”
Amid this chaos, twelve caskets were sent back holding remains from British nationals, but only ten have been accurately identified. This mishandling isn't just causing pain—it has ignited deep outrage and demands from families longing just simply know where their loved ones are.
James Healy-Pratt, an aviation lawyer aiding 20 grieving families, demands clarity and justice. “Losing someone in an air tragedy isn't just sudden; it leaves traumatic ripples,” he remarked. Families deserve not just explanations, but answers.
### Celebrating a life and love shared
Fiongal and Jamie weren't just partners in life; they co-founded Wellness Foundry, a hub in London and Ramsgate offering psychic readings, tarot, reiki, and yoga. Their lives, from 2019 onward, were dedicated in equal measure—as friends would say—to each other and their mission. Everyone who crossed their path felt their uplifting impact.
Amanda fights on, urging authorities not just correct errors but truly bring her son back. The LGBTQ+ community, friends, and allies stand with these families in empathy and solidarity, knowing full well how unfathomable this ordeal has been.
As investigations continue, there's a glimmer—barely—that those grieving might eventually get some answers, some closure. Only then can they begin piecing together their lives around memories cherished and lessons taught, if ever.
