Funds raised for charities who helped after Alan died

Alan (28) died tragically in a car accident in Australia in November.

It was with the help of the Newry-based Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and the Perth-based Claddagh Association that the family were able to bring Alan’s body home.

Alan had been on his way to a river kayaking trip to pan for gold and planned to make a ring for his girlfriend Elaine Ni Meachair.

Just outside Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Alan had been a back seat passenger in a 4X4 when the driver lost control. It is understood died almost immediately.

The son of Terry and Maureen Haughey from Drumglass, Alan had moved to the Perth area last year after round four trips to Australia.

A former pupil of St Anthony’s PS and Lismore Comprehensive, Alan worked as a mechanic for MMS Engineering in Kalgoorlie and loved the Western Australian lifestyle.

Despite their intense grief, Alan’s parents and his sisters Christine and Nicola and his brother Mark, his girlfriend Elaine wanted to give something in return after the immense support they had received from the Kevin Bell Trust and the Claddagh Association in the aftermath of his death.

They set up a Just Giving Page in Alan’s memory in order to raise much needed funds for both charities.

Alan’s sister Christine said that they have raised £5k for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and $5k (Australian dollars) for the Claddagh Association in Perth.

A Lurgan woman Joan Ross (nee Larkin) is president of the Claddagh Association and still has strong family links to Lurgan.

It is a testament to how much Alan was loved and how highly he was thought of that so many donated within such a short space of time to both charities.

The Haughey family is very grateful to all who donated and supported them through these last few months.

The Just Giving Page has since been closed and the money is due to be handed over to the charities soon.

Since Alan’s death in November several young people from Ireland have died in tragic circumstances and these two charities have been very busy helping their friends and family also.