A national fundraising drive for the victims of the Creeslough explosion has reached €903,000.
The Irish Red Cross fund was launched on Monday to support the families of the victims and those injured in last Friday’s tragedy.
The Applegreen company made an initial donation of €50,000 to the fund and is promoting the appeal in 200 stores across its network in Ireland. Meanwhile, An Post offered assistance by collecting donations in branches across the country.
Red Cross volunteers visited the village day centre last night to meet with locals and offer financial assistance on a confidential basis.
Meanwhile, more than €400,000 has been raised by a Donegal man in Australia in support of his home community.
Gerard McFadden in Brisbane, who once worked in the Creeslough store before it changed hands, was so devastated to hear of the events last Friday that he set up a GoFundMe to direct funds to the community.
Among those donating large sums are easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, whose Philanthropic Foundation gifted €10,000 and advertising company JCDecaux, which also pledged €10,000.
Gerard is set to liaise with the Creeslough Community Association to ensure funds raised will go directly to those who need assistance.
