LOUISE James has asked
friends to rally around her once again as she
prepares to mark a month since the drowning tragedy
that claimed five of her family at Buncrana Pier.
A large crowd is expected at Holy Family Church,
Ballymagroarty, Derry, on Wednesday evening for the
month's mind mass for Sean McGrotty (46), Mark (12)
and Evan McGrotty (8); Ruth Daniels (59) and Jodie
Lee Daniels (14).
Brave Ms James (35) took to social media yesterday
to let people know about the service for her
partner, two sons, mother and little sister.
"Just a little reminder that the month's mass for
Sean, Mark, Evan, Jodie Lee and Ruth is this
Wednesday at 7.15pm in Holy Family chapel,
Ballymacgroarty," she wrote on her Facebook page
along with an updated profile photograph of the
family in happier times.
Meanwhile, local parish priest Fr Paddy O'Kane has
organised a church envelope collection to help the
family.
"This weekend we give out envelopes for the McGrotty/Daniels
family. The proceeds will be given to Louise James
to be used at her own discretion," Fr O'Kane told
churchgoers via the parish newsletter.
The horrific accident happened when Mr McGrotty's
Audi 4x4 got into difficulty on the slipway of
Buncrana Pier following a daytrip to Co Donegal on
Sunday, March 20.
The large black vehicle is reported to have slipped
on green algae into Lough Swilly and became quickly
submerged at evening high tide.
Kerrykeel footballer Davitt Walsh (29) bravely swam
out to the stricken family and managed to save
four-month old baby Rioghnach Ann after she was
thrust from the sinking SUV by her father.
Mr Walsh recalled how Mr McGrotty then courageously
returned inside the vehicle in a vain bid to help
the rest of his family.
An online fundraising drive to help the bereaved
families has raised the Sterling equivalent of
110,000 euro with other local events raising tens of
hundreds more.
Derry-based Martin McGranaghan who launched one of
the Just Giving crowd-funding pages said he was
“lost for words” at the outpouring for the
grief-stricken family.
"Over 66 thousand pounds raised in three weeks. With
one week of the page left, let's all give it one
last push to raise as much as we (possibly) can and
thank you to each and everyone of you that has
already donated,” he said. |
