‘I was totally fine with it’: Patrick Clancy on suicidal thoughts, his kids and starting a new family | Today’s news

Patrick Clancy has spoken publicly for the first time since his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial ended in a bitter dispute, opening up about his children, his grief and the mental struggles he says preceded their deaths.

Patrick Clancy opened the scoring after 60 minutes

Patrick Clancy gave his first television interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes on September 20, where he spoke publicly about the deaths of his three children, his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy’s mental health issues and the conspiracy theories surrounding the case. The interview, conducted by correspondent Ross Douthat, came weeks after a mistrial was announced in Lindsay’s triple murder case.

One of the most difficult parts of the interview was Patrick’s account of the months leading up to her death in January 2023. He recalled that in October 2022, Lindsay had spent several sleepless nights.

Read also | He declared a mistrial in the case of Lindsay Clancy, who killed her three children

“She came downstairs one morning and said, ‘I didn’t sleep at all last night,'” Patrick said. He told her, “That’s terrible. And I’ll take the kids to school. You just focus on getting stuck in your sleep.”

When asked if he understood postpartum mental illness at the time, Patrick said he didn’t.

“I could piece together what it was like to be really, really anxious or depressed, but I didn’t know how to manage postpartum,” he said. “I think mental illness has the ability to be tragically deceptive.

He described December as a particularly difficult time for Lindsay, characterized by “tremendous lack of sleep, deep, deep depression, intrusive thoughts”. She ended up going to the hospital.

Patrick also spoke about his youngest child, Callan, who survived the January 24 attack before dying in his father’s arms for four days. Patrick recalled how he initially believed Callan might survive after doctors restarted his heart.

“I remember thinking, ‘Give me one child and I’ll raise it the best I can,'” he said. “I would tell him about his brother and sister.

When he arrived at the hospital and saw the doctor’s expression, he realized that Callan’s prognosis was poor. “I’m so grateful for the four days I got to spend with him,” Patrick said. “I have to hold him, I have to lie down next to him and he died in my arms.

Patrick also addressed his decision to forgive Lindsay. He rejected descriptions of her as a “killer mom”, “baby killer” or “monster”, saying those labels did not reflect his understanding of what happened.

“I believe her mental illness caused it,” he said. Asked if Lindsay had ever asked him for forgiveness, Patrick said: “No. But I gave it to her.”

The interview also touched on the question Patrick has repeatedly faced about whether he could have prevented the tragedy. “I think I did the best I could with what I had at the time,” he said. “And I live with the result.

Patrick revealed that his grief was so overwhelming that he had suicidal thoughts. “There was a time when I didn’t think I’d see my 35th birthday,” he said. “And I was totally fine with that.

He said he continues to dream about his children and still talks to them. “I like to believe so. It’s a way of staying connected with them,” he said when asked if he believed they helped him.

Read also | 60 Minutes Tonight: What time is the interview with Patrick Clancy on CBS?

Patrick also directly addressed online theories accusing him of having a hand in his children’s deaths. He called them “deeply damaging to my children’s legacy” and said they were distracting from what he believed should be the central issue: perinatal mental health.

Testifying during Lindsay’s trial was traumatic in itself. Patrick said he suffered a “massive traumatic panic attack” during the break before the 911 call was played in court and he was taken to an ambulance. Still, he came back because, as he said, “I want to go back and finish it.

Patrick Clancy and his relationship with Dr Rachel Danis

Patrick appeared alongside his wife, Dr. Rachel Danis. Danis said she tries to “take some of the weight off Pat” and honor his children while allowing him to grieve. The couple is now expecting a child.

“I can’t bring his kids back,” Danis said, “but if I can honor them and allow Pat to grieve, but also just honor them in the present, I think that’s all I can do.”

Patrick said he looks forward to telling their future children about Cora, Dawson and Callan. “I can’t wait to tell them about their brothers and sister,” he said.

Lindsay’s case ended in a dispute after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether he will face a retrial.