Uploaded February 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Full Length Interrogation of Clifford Burns
A mother is urging people in violent relationships to speak out this Christmas, a year after her daughter was killed by her ex while she was preparing the turkey.
Helen Curran’s 42-year-old daughter, Patricia, was stabbed five times by Clifford Burns, who also wounded his step-daughter, Megan, in the savage Christmas Eve attack at their home in New York.
Mrs Curran said: ‘I can’t wait for Christmas to be over. It holds nothing but painful memories for me. I urge anyone in an abusive relationship to get out. I wish my Trish had.’
In her first interview since her daughter’s death, Mrs Curran has revealed she had doubts about Burns almost as soon as he and mother-of-three Patricia got together in 1997.
‘Patricia told me Clifford’s dad had abused his mother for years, once shooting her in the chest,’ Mrs Curran explained. ‘Then he killed himself after kidnapping her. Clifford had only been a teenager at the time. I dreaded to think what impact it could’ve had on him psychologically.’
But Patricia did not listen to her mother’s warning. Instead they married, going on to have two children, Harley and Autumn, together.
‘Patricia told me everyone has good in them,’ Mrs Curran said. ‘Except I knew Clifford didn’t. He beat Patricia but she always went back to him. As a mother, that was unbearable.’
Finally, after one particularly brutal attack, Patricia found the strength to have a five-year restraining order taken out against Burns.
‘Patricia moved to a new place with the kids and got a job as a nurse at the local hospice. It was perfect for my caring daughter,’ Mrs Curran said.
But last year, Patricia confided in her mother that Burns had failed to pay child support.
Patricia was just 42 when she was savagely murdered by her ex-husband
Clifford Burns who is currently serving 23 years to life for the crime which took place last Christmas
Patricia was just 42 when she was savagely murdered by her ex-husband Clifford Burnswho is currently serving 23 years to life for the crime which took place last
Mother-of-four Patricia had finally left Clifford, who was abusive, and was starting a new life with her children
Mother-of-four Patricia had finally left Clifford, who was abusive, and was starting a new life with her children‘I just wish Trish had seen what I did – a monster.’
DailyMail
dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2883340/Mother-daughter-stabbed-death-Christmas-Eve-ex-husband-prepared-festive-turkey-urges-domestic-abuse-victims-speak-out.html
Full Length Interrogation of Clifford Burns
A mother is urging people in violent relationships to speak out this Christmas, a year after her daughter was killed by her ex while she was preparing the turkey.
Helen Curran’s 42-year-old daughter, Patricia, was stabbed five times by Clifford Burns, who also wounded his step-daughter, Megan, in the savage Christmas Eve attack at their home in New York.
Mrs Curran said: ‘I can’t wait for Christmas to be over. It holds nothing but painful memories for me. I urge anyone in an abusive relationship to get out. I wish my Trish had.’
In her first interview since her daughter’s death, Mrs Curran has revealed she had doubts about Burns almost as soon as he and mother-of-three Patricia got together in 1997.
‘Patricia told me Clifford’s dad had abused his mother for years, once shooting her in the chest,’ Mrs Curran explained. ‘Then he killed himself after kidnapping her. Clifford had only been a teenager at the time. I dreaded to think what impact it could’ve had on him psychologically.’
But Patricia did not listen to her mother’s warning. Instead they married, going on to have two children, Harley and Autumn, together.
‘Patricia told me everyone has good in them,’ Mrs Curran said. ‘Except I knew Clifford didn’t. He beat Patricia but she always went back to him. As a mother, that was unbearable.’
Finally, after one particularly brutal attack, Patricia found the strength to have a five-year restraining order taken out against Burns.
‘Patricia moved to a new place with the kids and got a job as a nurse at the local hospice. It was perfect for my caring daughter,’ Mrs Curran said.
But last year, Patricia confided in her mother that Burns had failed to pay child support.
Patricia was just 42 when she was savagely murdered by her ex-husband
Clifford Burns who is currently serving 23 years to life for the crime which took place last Christmas
Patricia was just 42 when she was savagely murdered by her ex-husband Clifford Burnswho is currently serving 23 years to life for the crime which took place last
Mother-of-four Patricia had finally left Clifford, who was abusive, and was starting a new life with her children
Mother-of-four Patricia had finally left Clifford, who was abusive, and was starting a new life with her children‘I just wish Trish had seen what I did – a monster.’
DailyMail
dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2883340/Mother-daughter-stabbed-death-Christmas-Eve-ex-husband-prepared-festive-turkey-urges-domestic-abuse-victims-speak-out.html
