Brilliant response from people supporting the Doherty family

OVER €800 was raised at a car wash fundraiser in Kiltipper on Monday for a local family, some of whom sustained serious injuries in a house fire last month.

The Doherty family, consisting of Joanne and Glen Doherty and their daughter Jessica, who is in her early 20s, their son Tommy, aged 12, and their five-month-old grandson were rescued from their house on Deerpark Drive in Kiltipper in the early hours of Thursday, April 14.

Glen is currently in a coma in St James’ Hospital, while Tommy is being treated in Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin, after sustaining third degree burns over 70 per cent of his body.

Joanne suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after she was rescued from the house and is currently recovering.

Jessica and her son, Harrison, were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire and are now staying with family members.

The alarm was raised by Jessica, who called out for help from the upstairs front bedroom window, which prompted one of their neighbours to stand on a wheelie bin to catch baby Harrison and help Jessica out of the burning house.

Other neighbours then retrieved Tommy from a back room in the house, before firefighters from Dublin Fire Brigade arrived on scene and rescued Joanne and Glen.

The family has a long road of recovery ahead of them, which prompted family friend Trisha Hopkins to organise the car wash fundraiser in aid of the Dohertys.

The two-hour event saw children, from ages six to 17, that Joanne cared for over her many years as a childcare worker, carry out car washes for €5 donations per car.

Over 50 cars were washed on the day, and support was also provided by members of Glen’s and Joanne’s families who helped out.

Trisha told The Echo: “It was brilliant. The kids had a ball, they loved it.

“There was a great atmosphere. We had music going and treats for the kids, and Joanne and Glen’s families were there.

“Joanne’s 63-year-old mother helped to wash the cars. People from the age of two to 63 helped to wash the cars.”

The total raised by the fundraiser was €845, which will go towards helping to alleviate the financial burden placed on the family following the house fire, in which they lost all their belongings.

Trisha said Joanne was “delighted” when she found out how much money had been raised, particularly in relation to easing the expense of visiting her husband in St James’ Hospital and her son in Crumlin hospital every day.

Reflecting on how the fundraiser went, Trisha said: “We’re all very proud of ourselves for raising that much, and it was a great day, but it was the kids who did all the hard work.

“We couldn’t have done it without the kids and the people who came up in their cars and gave their support.”

Trisha is planning to hold another fundraiser for the family in the form of a fun day on the green in the Allenton Estate in Ballycragh, as that’s where Joanne is originally from, on Sunday, July 3.