The son of convicted double murderer Colin Howell has revealed his profound journey towards potentially forgiving his father, who brutally killed his mother and his secret lover's husband, maintaining a twisted lie for nearly two decades before confessing. Seamus Daniel, now a doctor in New York, shared his harrowing story in a new ITV documentary, detailing how his life "fell apart" upon discovering the truth about the 1991 murders.
A Sinister Deception Unravels After 18 Years
Colin Howell, a former dentist now aged 67, is currently serving a life sentence at HMP Maghaberry in Northern Ireland for the double murder and sexual assault of patients. In 1991, he murdered his wife Lesley Howell, aged just 31, and Trevor Buchanan, the husband of his lover Hazel Stewart, in Castlerock. Howell meticulously staged the scene to appear as a suicide pact, leading police to initially believe the victims had taken their own lives due to the discovery of their partners' affair.
This grim facade persisted for 18 years until January 2009, when Howell walked into a police station in County Londonderry and confessed to the murders. It was revealed that he had drugged both victims before killing them and arranging their bodies to simulate suicide. In November 2010, he pleaded guilty to the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, making him ineligible for parole until at least 2031.
Additional Crimes and Legal Proceedings
Subsequently, Howell also admitted to sexually assaulting multiple female patients at his Ballymoney dental practice, receiving a concurrent sentence of five-and-a-half years and losing his NHS pension. He further denied ownership of child pornography found on his computer in 2009, despite evidence linking it to him. Hazel Stewart, his accomplice, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years and is held at Hydebank Wood in Belfast. In 2025, she failed in a legal bid to reduce her sentence, claiming coercive control by Howell.
Growing Up in a House of Lies and Control
Seamus Daniel, along with his siblings Lauren and Jonathan, participated in the ITV documentary Killer in the House, offering their perspective on the tragedy. Seamus described his childhood as dominated by his father's evangelical Protestant beliefs, framed in a "very religious but punitive way." He recalled a cold household where children were "summoned" after dinner, leading to shouting, screaming, and smacking if they were deemed to have "rebelled against God’s authority."
From a young age, Seamus viewed his father as a "fake or a fraud," and the memory of his mother was treated as a "dirty word," with the family forbidden from speaking of her or visiting her grave. He expressed disbelief and disgust upon learning the truth, noting a strange sense of relief that his mother had not committed suicide on his second birthday, as he had long believed.
The Path to Confession and Emotional Aftermath
The unraveling began in 2007 after the accidental death of Seamus' older brother Matthew, which Howell interpreted as divine punishment akin to that of King David. Friends from church later informed Seamus of his father's confession and arrest, meeting him at Belfast International Airport to deliver the shocking news. Seamus described the moment as a "million feelings at once" and a complete mental upheaval.
Although he has received "cringe" letters from his father since the 2009 confession, Seamus has not spoken to or visited him in prison. He aspires to forgive Howell, stating, "I don't wish any harm on him. I would really love to hear that he had learned the freedom that comes with being honest and also a little bit of humility." However, he dismissed Stewart's appeal attempts, urging her to simply "say sorry" instead of justifying her actions.
Family Reflections and Ongoing Trauma
Seamus' sister, Lauren Bradford-Clarke, also spoke out, describing how hearing her father's confession tapes in a separate BBC documentary, Confessions of a Killer, brought back feelings of "shock, horror and trauma." She noted it has been "very, very difficult to come to terms with" the revelations. Seamus has since reconnected with his mother's memory, visiting her grave and learning from her friends that she was a "charismatic, friendly, fun woman" who cherished motherhood.
The documentary Killer in the House is now available on ITVX, shedding light on this chilling case and the enduring impact on the victims' families. As Seamus continues his journey towards forgiveness, he emphasises the importance of honesty and accountability, not just for his own healing but for the broader community affected by these crimes.
