john is very proud of his son and will not get mixed up in anything that will have earn his disapproval. john shows up periodically to visit eddie, and on one occasion he brings eddie's ex-girlfriend, eibhlin o'donnell (mary conlon), with him. unfortunately, john's timing couldn't have been worse, as her arrival spells the end of his son's relationship with kathy beale (gillian taylforth). however, within a few months, eddie has changed his mind and asks eibhlin to marry him.