"Heartbreak and Betrayal: How My Dad's Affair Led to His Tragic End"

A HEARTBROKEN woman has revealed how her father’s mistress lured him to her apartment where her own fiancé brutally murdered him.

Morgan McCormick, 21, from Newtownards, Northern Ireland, and her family, were devastated when they discovered Pat McCormick , 55, had a six-month affair with his work colleague.

Morgan McCormick was devastated to hear of her dad’s affair – but the worst was yet to come Credit: True Life Stories Morgan, bottom right, pictured as a child with her parents – William, better known as Pat, and Alison McCormick – and her siblings Credit: True Life Stories

Weeks after being kicked out of the family home, Pat believed he was meeting Lesley Ann Dodds, 28, but instead, her fiancé, David Gill, 33, battered him to death, before putting his body in a wheelie bin and dumping it into a quarry.

Now, Pat’s daughter is bravely speaking of her family’s loss, and is paying tribute to her dad.

Morgan, a nursery assistant, says: “My dad was my best friend. Now, he’ll never see me grow up, get married or meet his grandkids.

“Our family was heartbroken when we discovered the , but I chose to forgive Dad.

Her parents were married for 20 years before her dad’s affair was exposed Credit: True Life Stories Morgan was a ‘daddy’s girl’ and says her parents were ‘very in love’ Credit: True Life Stories

“Although he made a huge mistake, and broke Mum’s heart, he .

“He was the best father, and I miss him every day.”

Morgan’s parents, William, better known as Pat, and Alison McCormick, 53, were happily married for 20 years.

Morgan says: “Whilst we were growing up, Mum and Dad were very in love, and incredibly affectionate to one another.

“Whilst I was the epitome of a Daddy’s girl. I was attached to his hip and wouldn’t let him go out without me.”

In their local area, Newtownards, everyone knew Pat, as he was a caretaker at the local church.

But in December 2018, he wanted to bring more money into the house, and took on a second job as a carer, visiting elderly who had dementia.

Morgan says: “A year into his new job, Dad began mentioning his colleague called Lesley. He picked her up for shifts as she didn’t drive.

“She was much younger and was newly engaged. None of us thought anything of it.

“Until one afternoon, Dad picked me up from school with Lesley in the car. She didn’t say hello and seemed a bit odd.

“Not long after, Dad took me to get my tongue pierced and weirdly, he invited Lesley. When I got home, Mum thought it was weird that she’d came along.”

Soon, Alison, a personal shopper for Tesco, grew suspicious of Pat and Lesley’s friendship.

Then in May 2019, Pat suspiciously changed his phone code and the family discovered texts from Lesley revealing a secret six-month long affair.

Morgan says: “I was furious and shouted at Dad. So did my sister. We couldn’t believe it.

“After 20 years of marriage, we didn’t understand how he could hurt mum like that.

“Mum was heartbroken. Dad begged her to forgive him, but she kicked him out and he went to stay with my granny who lived down the road.

“Mum cried non-stop for days. Lesley had also cheated on her own fiancé too.

“The whole thing was a mess.”

Horrifyingly, Morgan’s dad was lured to his death by his lover Credit: True Life Stories Killer David Gill pictured in the back of a police van Credit: Pacemaker Press

Morgan began visiting her dad every day and he took her to school.

Morgan says: “Dad was gutted and kept asking how Mum was and if she’d take him back.

“I told him she wouldn’t. I hated he’d done this, but he was still an amazing father.

“He made an awful mistake, but I forgave him.”

Three weeks later, Lesley’s fiancé, David, found out too and texted Alison to inform her.

She ignored the text, and days later, Pat went missing.

Morgan says: “The police opened a missing person’s case. But weeks went by, and I had this horrible feeling that Lesley and David were involved.

“Especially David, who had a vendetta against Dad. I stressed my concerns to the police.

“Mum put her anger aside as she was worried sick too.”

One month after going missing, police found Pat’s car parked in Comber, County Down, where Lesley lived.

Then, they discovered a flooded quarry behind David’s nephew’s house, in Ballygowan, County Down, and they sent a team of scuba divers to search the quarry.

Horrifyingly, they found Pat’s body in a wheelie bin at the bottom, which had been weighted down with concrete blocks.

Morgan says: “Our worlds ended. Lesley and David were monsters.

“We soon learned that the day Dad went missing, he received messages from Lesley’s Facebook account asking to come over.

“As Dad knew her fiancé knew everything, he was scared, and replied ‘I think you’re setting me up for a kicking.’

“She promised she wasn’t and sadly, Dad was lured to her flat.

“There, David was waiting. He beat Dad to death, and he was left with 24 rib fractures.

“After murdering him, David returned the next day and called his family for help.

“His brother, nephew and family friend were told, and they helped him hide the body. I never knew such evil existed.

“Mum grieved Dad badly, they’d been together all their lives. Whilst I couldn’t believe I’d never see Dad’s sweet smile or hear his laugh again.”

In June 2023, David Gill, 30, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life and must serve a minimum of 16 years at Belfast Crown Court.

Lesley Ann Dodds, 25, of Queen Victoria Gardens, Belfast, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five and a half years.

For withholding information, David’s brother, William Gill, 43, of Terrace View, Waringstown, was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

His nephew, Andrew Leslie, 24, of Mourne Crescent, Moneyrea, and his family friend, Jonathon Richard Leslie Montgomery, 24, of Castle Espie Road, Comber, were sentenced to 15 months, suspended for two years.

Morgan says: “Lesley lured Dad to his death and is the reason he isn’t alive.

“Now, Mum is struggling with her heartbreak, and grieving Dad at the same time.

“He was taken from us in worst way possible, but I will cherish our beautiful memories forever.”