Tallaght family raises almost €3k for trust after holiday tragedy
By Maurice Garvey
WHEN her parents went on holiday to Portugal last summer, Tallaght resident Jennifer O’Toole feared the worst after receiving a phone call the day before they were due home.
Sadly, Jennifer’s mother Linda O’Mara died while on a holiday with her husband Jim.
“I got the dreaded phone call, it was very sudden,” said Jennifer, a Fettercairn resident.
“Those first few days were very stressful for the family. How would we get her home. The Portuguese government weren’t very helpful. We didn’t know what to do.”
Linda’s heartbroken husband Jim had to travel home alone, as the family tried frantically to make arrangements.
Fortunately, a friend of the family recommended the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which helps families bring back the remains of their loved ones who die overseas.
Jennifer continued: “It was such a relief. They sorted everything out. We only had to talk to the Irish consulate once. There was a wait of two weeks, but that is due to the process over there. They are an amazing charity. You don’t realise how good they are until you are in that position.”
The Kevin Bell Trust was established by Newry couple Colin and Eithne Bell after the tragic death of their son Kevin – who was killed in a hit-and-run in New York in 2013.
The town of Newry raised close to €180,000, but as Kevin’s employers were taking care of the repatriation, Colin decided he would use the money to help other families in similar tragic circumstances.
This week, two cheques were presented to the Kevin Bell Trust at St Marks Community School in Tallaght for close to €3,000.
Money was raised from the annual Mary O’Toole Memorial Cup in Saggart Pitch and Putt Club, which was started eight years ago by the family of Jennifer’s husband Jeff O’Toole, to honour his late aunt.
Jennifer’s daughter Ciara, and her nieces Sarah and Kerryann Sutton, were involved in a separate fundraiser at St Mark’s for the trust.