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Kilkenny folk are thanked by grieving family
By Elaine Sheridan
The grieving family of an English woman who died following a sexual assault
in Ireland has thanked the Irish public for their generosity in raising
money to fly her body back to Britain to be buried.
Lorraine White, 42, died in hospital from massive internal injuries after
she was attacked in her home in Callan, Co. Kilkenny on March 8.
The mother-of-seven, who is originally from Wigan, had lived in the town
with her daughter Liz for eight years before the tragedy struck.
Ms White’s elderly father, James Hartley still lives in Greater
Manchester but couldn’t afford to bring his daughter’s body
back to Britain for burial.
A fund was set up by the locals in Kilkenny, which has raised more than
?5,000 to help with the cost of the funeral.
Speaking to The Irish Post Mr Hartley told how grateful he is to those
in Ireland for helping with the spiralling costs of getting his daughter’s
body back to Britain.
The 73-year-old pensioner lives on state benefits so even day-to-day expenses
can be a struggle.
And appeals to social services for financial help to get his daughter
buried in a cemetery near his home fell on deaf ears.
He said: “We’re overjoyed with the help from everyone in Ireland.
“I can’t afford it on my own as I only get my weekly pension
and that isn’t enough to live on.
“I really want to bury Lorraine over here, otherwise I could never
visit her grave.”
Kilkenny county councillor Matt Doran was one of the people to start the
fundraising initiative with the help of the local radio station KCLR.
Extending his thanks to others who helped, he said: “The people
of the town were absolutely shocked, saddened and angry at what happened.
“It was the least we could do when we heard of the family’s
financial circumstances in England.
“Money started pouring in from all sorts of people around here.
“We are all very grateful to everyone involved.”
An investigation into the death of Lorraine White is now under way involving
a team of detectives from Kilkenny and the National Bureau of Criminal
Investigation.
A man was arrested but later released by gardaí.
Arrangements to have Ms White’s body flown back to Britain are yet
to be finalised, pending a report from the state pathologist. |
