Gardaí pony up the dough

SEVERAL of Waterford’s leading gardaí were saddle sore but smiling as they arrived in the city yesterday evening, having raised bucket-loads of money for a very worthy appeal.

There were cheers and much relief just before rush hour yesterday as a fund-raising convoy, featuring some of Ireland’s top jockeys, members of the garda mounted unit and two local officers dismounted safely after close to six hours in the saddle.

The fund-raising trip on horseback from Dungarvan to Waterford city was all in aid of the O’Regan Family Trust Fund, a charity which will help three children in the city recover from the fire which claimed the lives of their parents and baby sister in early June.

“We’re fairly sore alright. I’ve a few grand welts on my backside at this stage,” said chief fundraiser and event organiser, Garda James Fenton. “We had to empty the buckets into the back of the paddy wagon several times, such was the response.

“People were giving us 20s and 50s. The response has been amazing and we thank every single one of them.”

Gardaí have set up an account for the event at the Bank of Ireland, The Quay, Waterford and donations can be made to account number 46339608.