Organiser of tsunami fundraiser hoping to raise €1m

The man behind a pub-based fundraising drive for the victims of the Asian tsunami has said he hopes to have raised around €1m by the time the collection ends this evening.

Retired garda Jim McQuaid arranged the fundraiser at short notice last week. Thousands of pubs, restaurants and hotels were involved.

Speaking about the drive last night, he said it was vital that the money raised was distributed to the survivors of the St Stephen's Day disaster as quickly as possible.

Mr McDaid has asked publicans not to delay in bringing the funds to their local garda station tomorrow morning, from where it will be lodged in the bank account of the Irish Red Cross.