Pharmacist comes to aid of Syrian war victim

An Irish pharmacist has stepped in to help a Syrian chemist who fled war-torn Homs for Ireland after his business was destroyed by a car bomb.

Conor Phelan, managing director of the Phelan pharmacy chain, said he was so touched by Akram Wardi’s plight, he wanted to help him build a new life here.

“We’ve had relatively good fortune here,” Mr Phelan said. “We get the odd flood here and there, but when you hear this story — of being bombed out of your business, of living in fear of being kidnapped — it sounds like this guy needs a break.”