Appeal to repatriate bodies of mother and son raises €25,000

A fundraising campaign to help repatriate the bodies of a mother and her son to Ireland has raised more than €25,000.

Venezuelan-born Mildred Darcy (38) and son Kirin Darcy (2) died tragically in Dubai last month, their family said in a statement on the justgiving.com website.

The online appeal was set up online to help pay for the repatriation expenses incurred by her husband Satya Darcy, a jazz drummer originally from Co Clare, but now based in Dublin.

The money will be used to cover the costs of the funerals but also to fly Ms Darcy's family from Venezuela to Ireland for the burial.

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The fundraising target was £15,000 (€17,000), but that has been surpassed and to date 463 donors have contributed £22,684 (€25,684).

“Since the devastating news of their passing last week in Dubai, it has been Satya’s primary focus to bring his family back home to Ireland,” the family statement on the fundraising page read.

Ms Darcy, originally from Venezuela, had lived in Ireland for over ten years and “always considered it to be her true home”, the statement continued.

“This sum will help provide assistance to cover the cost of the funerals and any other associated costs. It will also help towards flying Mildred’s family from Venezuela back to Ireland, so both families can be as one together to pay tribute to the lives of Mildred and baby Kirin.

The Darcy family left a message on the site subsequently. “Thank you so much to everyone for your continued support. We are honestly overwhelmed by all of the messages and donations we have received. We would be most grateful if you can continue to share this page in your social media networks.”