The parents of a young man who died tragically in New York have covered the cost of returning another young Irishman’s body to his family.
Kevin Bell, 27, died last June in a tragic hit-and-run in New York. His parents Eithne and Collie have been helping other families through a trust in his name.
So far over $191,700 (£120,000) has been raised for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. It offers financial assistance to families who have lost a loved one abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances.
The fund has been used to bring home the body of Conor Brady, 24, from Screen in Co. Sligo, who died tragically in Las Vegas last weekend.
Brady had been working in Washington DC with the Irish Dairy Board. He had travelled to Las Vegas with friends for the weekend.
Collie Bell told the Irish Independent they were delighted to help the Brady family.
"The average cost of repatriating a body is about $7,987 (€5,000), but the further away the location, the more expensive it is," he told the Irish Independent.
"As we said at the time, with so many young people now abroad, Kevin's death would not be the last.
"Sadly, this has proved to be the case. We'd like the message to get out that the trust is here to help families in all 32 counties."
Donations to the Kevin Bell trust can be made at www.donations.ie.
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