'There’s going to be 10 funerals' - Public asked for donations after tragic Carrickmines fire
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has opened a bank account for donations for the families affected by the recent fire at Carrickmines.
Five children and five adults, all from the same extended family, perished in the blaze at the halting site on the Glenamuck Road in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The account is now open at AIB 10 Main Street, Dundrum, Co. Dublin. The account details are as follows:
NSC: 93-31-20
BIC: AIBKIE2D
Cheques made payable to 'SVP Carrickmines Tragedy' can be sent to Finance Dept, SVP East Region, 91-92 Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.
“There’s going to be 10 funerals,” said local Sinn Féin Councillor Chris Curran.
“That’s going to be very expensive. The State can only … will only help to a certain extent, but I know that the public want to help out here too.”
The Dublin Archdiocese will be helping coordinate the funerals, but said it will take time.
Formal identification of the victims is continuing, and is expected to rely on dental records due to the severity of the fire.
However, those missing and feared dead have been named as Thomas and Sylvia Connors and their children Jim, Christy and six-month old Mary.
Sylvia’s brother Willie Lynch, his partner Tara Gilbert, and their daughters Kelsey and Jodie also thought to have died in the fire, as well as Jimmy Lynch, a brother of Willie.
Two adults and a child injured in the blaze remain in hospital.
SVP members from St Mary's Conference in Sandyford and the Rathdown Area attended a meeting today with Traveller representative groups, the HSE and other agencies to discuss the most appropriate support for the families involved.
It is understood that most residents of the site have now left.
Book of condolence for the victims of Carrickmines tragedy is now open @MansionHouseDub 11am-4pm, today & tomorrow pic.twitter.com/5GoQhyiOh0
— Lord Mayor of Dublin (@LordMayorDublin) October 12, 2015
Councillor Curran said that housing options have been offered by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
“At the moment, the family are staying in totally unsuitable accommodation,” he said.
“But as far as I’m aware, options have been provided, and I think it’s a very much a decision, perhaps, of the family as to what they best want at this stage.”
Geraldine Dunne of the Southside Traveller Action Group says the community support has been humbling.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said.
“You’d actually have to see it to believe the amount of support that is now coming in to ourselves and the family.”
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh has called for a review of safety standards at halting sites.
The Green Party is calling for the elimination of temporary halting sites, and Traveller representatives have questioned whether the housing shortage in the city is to blame.
