Mystery €1m donation for hospice

A MYSTERIOUS benefactor has lodged €1 million into the bank account of a foundation planning to build a hospice in Co Wicklow.

The identity of the benefactor is known to the Wicklow Hospice Foundation but is being kept a closely guarded secret. No information, not even the gender of the person involved, their nationality or their link with Wicklow is being revealed.

“I can’t get into 20 questions,” said Dr Brendan Cuddihy, chairman of the foundation.

“The number of people who have this kind of money in the country at the moment is so small that you could very quickly arrive at a point where you might know the person involved,” he explained.

“It’s a very generous person . . . who believes in the need for a hospice and believes in the need for one in Wicklow.”

Dr Cuddihy said they were aware that the person involved wanted to make a substantial donation to build a hospice but they were “amazed and delighted” when €1 million arrived in the bank account last week.

Locals need to raise €3 million towards the cost of a 12-bedroom hospice for Co Wicklow which it is estimated will cost €15 million. The remainder will be provided by the State.

The aim is for a consultant-led specialist service with a multidisciplinary home-care team and a day centre. This hospice would be built in such a way as to enable future expansion.

Dr Cuddihy said the donation means the foundation is half-way towards its fundraising target and would hasten the day that they could go to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for the rest of the funding. They also received a donation of a site south of Wicklow town by the Columban sisters.

Dr Cuddihy said the foundation was now confident the building of the hospice could happen within two to three years as a result of the donation. He stressed the building of the hospice will save the State money in the long term as hospices are a more cost-efficient option than hospital care. It was also in keeping with the HSE and Department of Health policy on palliative care services, he added.