Patrick Clancy has spoken publicly for the first time since the mistrial of his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial, revealing intimate insight into his new life and the public scrutiny that has plagued him since the trial.
In the emotional interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Patrick reflected on how he has learned to navigate a life irrevocably upended by the deaths of his three children, Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, eight months old.
He also explained his decision to leave Massachusetts for New York City, where he hoped the anonymity of a new city might offer a reprieve from the “visceral reminders” of his children and an opportunity to grieve in private.
Five weeks after moving, Patrick faced his first painful milestone on what would have been Callan’s 1st birthday. On May 26, he went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where he lit a candle for his youngest son.
“Five weeks after I moved to New York, on May 26th, I had to figure out how I’m gonna celebrate Callan’s first birthday. And how do you celebrate your son’s first birthday months after he’s passed away?” he said.
“And so I go to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I light a candle, and I say, ‘I love you, buddy.’ And I walk out on Fifth Avenue and I start crying my eyes out. And nobody cared.”
He recalled thinking, “This is where I need to be.”
The interview, which was just shy of 15 minutes long, offered multiple insights into Patrick’s life, including his relationship with his new wife, Dr. Rachel Danis, an infertility specialist. Ahead, we’ve rounded up every revelation.
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Patrick & Rachel Are “Starting A Family”
Joining him for part of the interview, Patrick’s new wife, Dr. Rachel Danis, revealed that the couple are starting a family. When interviewer Ross Douthat asked, “What are you going to tell your child about their brothers and sister?” Patrick replied, “I think every parent can agree, you have different relationships with your kids, but they’re all your kids. And I can’t wait to tell them about their brothers and sister.”
Patrick Asked Lindsay If She “Remembered” Killing Their Children
Patrick recalled while he never asked Lindsay “why she did it”, he said he did ask whether she remembered doing it.
“She said it was like a dream, ” he recalled. “And she remembered it much in the way you would remember a dream after waking up.”
He also reflected on his own actions, saying he believed “I did the best I could with what I had at the time. And I live with the outcome. I live with it every day.”
Although he said Lindsay never asked him for forgiveness, Patrick revealed he “gave it to her.” He also said that forgiveness was something he felt he needed to find for his own sake: “When it comes to forgiveness, I also felt that if I didn’t get there, I would be eaten up inside forever.”
Callan’s Heart Kept Beating For Four Days
Patrick revealed that while Cora and Dawson were tragically pronounced dead at the scene, eight-month-old Callan initially survived and was rushed to Boston Children’s Hospital.
“I didn’t have all the details of Callan’s condition. I just knew that they got a heartbeat back,” he said.
“I really thought there was a chance that Callan would live. And I remember just thinking, ‘Just gimme one. Just gimme one kid, and I would raise him as best I could, and I would give him the best life I possibly could. I’d tell him about his brother and sister.’ And I was holding out hope for that. And then when I got to the hospital, I saw the doctor. I saw the look on her face, and I knew that it wasn’t gonna be a good prognosis.”
Callan’s heart ultimately kept beating for four days, giving Patrick the opportunity to say goodbye:
“I’m so grateful for those four days that I had with him. And I’m so grateful he hung on…I got to lay down next to him. And he died in my arms.”
Patrick Dreams About His Children “All The Time”
Patrick revealed he dreams about his children often, recalling a “good dream” he had not long after they died.
“I remember early on having a dream, maybe six months or a year after. And I’m in the kitchen at the house, and Cora walks in. And I just look at her and I– it was, like, I basically just said, “Where have you been?” And she comes up to me and gives me a big hug. Those dreams are so real. It’s like I’m lucid in those dreams.”
Patrick Addresses The Trial By Social Media
As the trial unfolded, Patrick found himself at the centre of an online maelstrom, with online sleuths poring over his testimony. Scrutiny surrounding the case spawned a plethora of conspiracy theories, with many alleging it was in fact Patrick who was truly responsible for the deaths of his children.
“It’s deeply harmful to the legacy of my children. It is a huge distraction from what really matters here, which is perinatal mental health,” he said.
“It’s done real harm to real people, myself included but also others. It’s painful to see. And it makes it difficult to be in public and it’s possible that some of those people after seeing lie after lie after lie, they start to believe it and that’s what we’re left with.”
Patrick’s demeanour while testifying during the trial was just one factor that contributed to many believing he was guilty. However he revealed that the perceived stoicism belied the distress he was experiencing behind the scenes.
“Testifying is very difficult. On the second day, a lot of that was focused on the night of January 24th. We did take a break right before they played the 911 call, which I knew was going to be just horrific,” he said.
He continued, “I went to a back room, and I started having this massive traumatic panic attack. My heart was pounding. And they put me in an ambulance they offered me some medication, but I said, “I don’t want it, ’cause I want to go back and I want to finish this so I can be done with this.” And I went back and I finished the testimony.”
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