Irish deaths in Australia - Help needed for families

[whiskeysteve]

Folks,

If you spare a couple of minutes to read the following I would really appreciate it.

Five Irish people have died in Western Australia in the past week. I personally knew one of them, Gerry Bradley. One of his brothers, Gregory, would be well known in Derry GAA circles for his work in fitting out gyms for local clubs as well as being a former player for his club Eoghan Rua, Coleraine.

Gerry tragically died this week in an accident on site in Perth. The same incident claimed another young man from Omagh, Joseph McDermott.

Their families, and the families of 3 other Irish people, now face the terrible situation of having to bring their loved ones home. I have heard a cost for this off hand and (maybe others can confirm this) it is an unbelievable 80k Aussie dollars to have the body of your loved one flown home.

In addition to this, the 5 families will have the cost of having family members and loved ones flown out and back from Australia. It is a sudden and brutal cost on top of their shock and grief and without the great support of those of us back home this simply could not be borne.

Those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Gerry and his family are trying our best to support them in this time by raising funds to bring him and his family members home. The deaths of our young people in Australia have touched so many of us who knew them and they need swift support at this terrible time.

I would humbly ask that those of you who can spare the time and whatever funds you can, do so by following the link below to support the charity that is supporting the Irish families by raising money to bring the remains of their loved ones home.

www.claddagh.org.au (scroll to bottom of page to donate)

News link to story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34930134

[Ulick]

9 in three weeks. Crazy.

Nine Irish people die in Australia in past three weeks - as families mourn Joe McDermott and Gerard Bradley
Families pay touching tributes to two young men killed in Perth building site tragedy

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/nine-irish-people-die-in-australia-in-past-three-weeks-as-families-mourn-joe-mcdermott-and-gerard-bradley-34236651.html


Nine Irish people have died in Perth in the past three weeks - an organisation set up to provide support to the Irish community in times of crisis has said as they comfort relatives of two young men killed in a building site accident.

The heartbroken families of, Joe McDermott from Omagh and Gerard Bradley from Portstewart, have told of their devastation as the two young men were killed when a concrete slab fell on the site in east Perth where the pair were working.

    Share
    Go To

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, set up to assist families who have lost loved ones abroad, is also helping the McDermott and Bradley families and is working alongside the Claddagh Association.

The Claddagh Association has been providing assistance to the young men's families in helping to bring their sons home.

A spokesman revealed that in the past three weeks nine Irish people have died in Perth.

Earlier this week, a Co Armagh man was tragically killed when the car he was travelling in crashed in Western Australia.

Alan Haughey (28) from Craigavon was a back seat passenger in a 4x4 which lost control on a bend in the Mount Burgess area on Saturday afternoon.

"Every one is so shocked by it all and it affects a lot of people, particularly as there were two of them," a Claddagh Association spokesman said.

"The bodies will now be at the coroner's office and it may take some time before there are flown home.

"I don't believe either family is coming out to Australia. I understand one of them has family in Tasmania, so they may come to Perth.
Joe McDermott (left) Gerard Bradley (right)
Joe McDermott (left) Gerard Bradley (right)

"Joe and Gerry were standing out the front of the building where they were working, for a smoke, just after their break and there was a truck being unloaded of concrete.

"Workers were taking it off the back of the truck and it tipped over and fell.

"With the influx of the Irish, things have become a little busier for us.

    It is with a very heavy heart that we write this post. Joe was a very valued member of the Silverbirch family for many...
    Posted by Silverbirch Hotel & Business Centre on Wednesday, 25 November 2015

"We have another body of a man from Craigavon and another lad who was injured on a building site when he fell of a ladder.

"We have had nine Irish people die in Perth during the last three weeks."

The welfare group helps to organise the repatriation of Irish people when they have no family in Perth.

The association has an undertaker and a travel agent who help in bringing bodies back to Northern Ireland and work with the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Tributes

The grieving parents of 24-year-old Joe McDermott from Tyrone said they will remember him as the "bright and bubbly young man that he was".

The Tyrone man had moved to Western Australia just weeks ago to start a new adventure.

In a loving tribute his family said: "We are devastated by Joe's death. We will always remember him as the bright and bubbly young man that he was.

"We are so proud of our son, who was so well-known and popular. He was so selfless and touched so many lives.

"Our thoughts are also with the other family affected by this tragedy.

"We want to thank everyone who has been supporting us through this difficult time, and we have been touched by their kind words."

The family of 29-year-old Gerry Bradley said they are in "tremendous shock".

In a statement they said: "What happened in Australia this week has come as a tremendous shock to our family and friends and to those of the McDermott Family, whose grief we share.

"It is impossible to describe the hurt and loss we are all feeling now.

"Gerard was one of the happiest people you could ever meet.

"He was a wonderful son, grandson, brother and friend and whilst his death will leave a great void in all our lives, he will leave us with some wonderful memories."

The Bradley family would like to thank everyone for their support and condolences at this tragic time and would sincerely ask the media to respect our wishes for privacy.

Local media also reported that one of the men was just days away from returning to Northern Ireland for Christmas. A friend of Mr Bradley revealed on his Facebook page that he was due to meet him at an airport in Australia today.

[seafoid]

done

[Atticus_Finch]

Thanks for posting whiskey, gladly donated.  From what I'm hearing the Claddagh association do great work supporting families in such tragic events like those described above.

Just to add to the above there is a fundraising night in memory of Gerry Bradley being held in the Harbour bar in Portrush on Wednesday, 9th December at 7pm with proceeds going towards the Claddagh association who are supporting not only Gerry's family but also the family of Joe 'Hoss' McDermott from Omagh at this very difficult time for them.

£10 entry includes complimentary food, live music and a raffle.

I'm trying to help friends who are organising the night gather up great prizes for the raffle. I was involved with organising a fundraiser four years ago and was astounded by the generosity of members of this board who were able to assist with donating prizes for the raffle.  If anyone would be in a position to assist could you PM please and your generosity would be very much appreciated.

Go raibh maith agat

[AlriteHorse]

The Claddagh Association do huge work here in Perth, for families that need support, not just financially. The current Chairman is actually a Derry man, Tom Quinn, who would have family connections to the St Marys Ardmore Club.

Terrible news over the last few weeks and I was shocked to hear the figure was 9 and I was only aware of 4 of them.

Thoughts with all families involved.

[whiskeysteve]

Thanks Seafoid, Finch and AlriteHorse