Appeal over orphan girls from Donegal

An urgent appeal has been made to help a young family left orphaned, separated, and without their own home after the death of their 34-year-old mother last month.

Sharon Alexander died in the Donegal Hospice in early November, two years after her former partner, and the children’s father, died tragically.

She left behind three daughters — Shannon, 15, Amy, 14, and Kayleigh, 12.

Following the death of their mother, the girls had to give up their council house in Castlefinn.

As Amy has Down syndrome, and is on a waiting list for heart surgery, she is being cared for by her aunt and uncle at their home in Killygordon.

Meanwhile, Shannon and Kayleigh have been taken in by another aunt and uncle in Drumkeen.

The Killygordon house has no downstairs bedroom, which Amy requires.

Family and friends have set up a charity, Sharon’s Girls, in the hope of raising enough funds to extend the Drumkeen house and to build a downstairs bedroom for Amy in Killygordon.

Well-known businesswoman Deirdre Grant is a friend of the family and, yesterday made a desperate appeal for help.

“What we have here is one of the most tragic cases I have ever come across in my life,” she said.

“I know the family, they are good people and are doing their best, but they urgently need help.

“Amy is a special girl who needs her own downstairs room, but Shannon and Kayleigh don’t even have their own bedroom and nowhere to keep their little memories of their mother. There’s room to extend both houses, but no money.”

Ms Grant said she has received offers of help from an architect and a builders’ supplier. One man offered to paint both extensions for free while another volunteered to co-ordinate the building projects.

If anyone wants to make a donation to the Sharons Girl’s can do so in three ways: Ulster Bank Ballybofey, Co Donegal: Sharons Girls Account number 10696752 sort code 98-52-52, or at www.Gofundme.com/nsfh53tw  or https://mydonate.bt.com/events/sharonsgirls/270810  or phone [phone].