Thousands lodged to fund

Tens of thousands of euro has been lodged in a trust fund set up to help the families of trawlermen who drowned when the Tit Bonhomme sank off the Cork coast.

The Union Hall Trawler Tragedy Support Fund was set up only eight days ago, but the rate at which money has poured in has surprised its seven trustees.

Trust fund spokesman Leo O’Driscoll, who is an accountant in Skibbereen, said money was coming in from all over the country and from a diverse range of people.

“We’ve had pensioners donating €5 and we’ve had a businesswoman who gave €1,500.

“It has actually stunned us how fast the money has come in. A lot is coming in online as well from fishing communities in Kerry, Galway and Donegal.”

He said he was aware a lot more money had yet to be received, as many groups were continuing with fundraisers.

The trustees, who include a priest and people who know the victims, will dispense some money to volunteers who are out of pocket from aiding the search operation in Glandore Bay.

They are still trying to locate the bodies of trawler skipper Michael Hayes and Egyptian crewman Saied Aly Eldin. The bodies of two Egyptian crewmen have been flown to their homes for burial.

Mr O’Driscoll said the fund had not received any request for help for the costs of this, which he believed was being borne by the Egyptian government.

However, he said the trustees would discuss with the sole survivor, Abdo Mohamad, and the Egyptian embassy how best to help the families of those dead men.

The fund will also aid the other victims’ families.

Mr O’Driscoll said that for the first anniversary of the tragedy, some of the money would be used to erect a memorial to those who died.

The fund at the AIB in Skibbereen has account number 10009183 and sort code 936375.

Anybody wishing to organise an event as part of the fundraiser can contact Mr O’Driscoll at (028) 51591.