Only child of Det. Steven McDonald posts moving Facebook message to his dad

Conor McDonald, 29, wasn’t born yet, when his father, Steven, suffered a catastrophic gunshot wound in the line of duty.

He never knew what it was like to enjoy a bear hug with his dad or play a game of catch. But he certainly received immense love from his father, and their bond ran deep.

“I’ll see you on the other side Daddio,” Conor posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon, several hours after Det. Steven McDonald was removed from life support. “I love you forever.”

Conor McDonald posted a poignant photo of him kissing his dad’s forehead, while the elder McDonald had his eyes closed, obviously savoring the father/son moment.

Steven McDonald was his son’s present age, 29, when he was shot in the head, throat and spine by a troubled, teenaged shooter on July 12, 1986. It happened in Central Park. Steven McDonald was newly married and his wife, Patti Ann, was three months pregnant when the shooting happened.

Conor Patrick McDonald was born on Jan. 29, 1987, and he was baptized by John Cardinal O’Connor in Bellevue Hospital on Steven McDonald’s 30th birthday.

Over the years, the family marched together in the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

In 2010, Conor followed his father into the NYPD. In 2016, Stephen McDonald beamed with pride, wearing his dress uniform, when his son was promoted on two different occasions at Police Headquarters: first to detective, and later in the year to sergeant.

After Steven McDonald suffered a massive heart attack on Jan. 6, Conor kept a vigil at his father’s bedside with his mother.

On Sunday morning, he posted a Facebook photo of him marching next to his dad’s wheelchair in a recent Saint Patrick’s Day parade.

Now, he’s sharing a photo that speaks volumes about the love and respect they had for each other.

“I’ll see you on the other side Daddio,” he wrote. “I love you forever.”

"The Likes Of You Again" Here's to you, I sing for my daddy-o As I lay him down to sleep It's been so long, since I lost my daddy-o Hope he's watchin' over me Wednesday night is mornin' now As I'm walkin' in the rain The birds are screaming in my ear Drivin' me insane Half the clouds are empty So the sun burst through the sky The puddles show reflection Of a face about to die Just around the corner, I was goin' round the bend I ran into a staggerin' fool Who said he knew my name He poured himself a whiskey And his face began to glow Two men without an answer Like a dog without a bone Bringin' in the new year As the bells began to ring Fats is in the corner, she's just about to sing Time to get another, before the final shout You should have heard them roarin' When they dragged the bugger out And we'll never see the likes of you again Jimbo came from slummin' town A cold and dreary place To summerland he found himself The sun shun on his face Met a girl called Minnie Pearl Swore she'd always be his girl Happy ever after, till the tide ran out again Pour me all your sorrows And I'll drink till you are dry I'll love you in the mornin' Christ, I'll love ya till you die I'll never leave so never grieve I'll be back before ya know But Jimbo fell into a well And never rambled home Carried all his troubles in an unforgivin' bag Back and forth through painted brick The colours all seemed bland I've traveled all these years, he said To only get this far, so he crossed the street Found a seat, his home is now a bar And we'll never see the likes of you again No we'll never see the likes of you again There must be more to life, than this poxie life All the agro, all the pain So he disappeared into his final beer But the glass was empty, once again, again, again Woke up in an awful state Dreamt I was at Peter's Gate Beggin' for his mercy And the crimes that were at hand He told me he was much amused To see this life I had abused Best be on your way, but have a swig before you go So I'm bringing in the New Year As the bells began to ring Fat's in the corner, she's just about to sing Time to get another, before the final shout You should have heard them roarin' When they dragged the bugger out And we'll never see the likes of you again No we'll never see the likes of you again No we'll never see the likes of you again ✏ Submit Corrections

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