New Zealand tragedy: Fundraiser launched to help bring Declan home

Friends of Declan Curley, the local man who died tragically in New Zealand last weekend, have launched a fundraising appeal to bring him home.

The 37-year-old from Clonark, Athlone, died after being struck by a car in Wellington in the early hours of Saturday morning, New Zealand time.

A proud Roscommon man, Declan has been described this week as "a fantastic person" and "such a lovely guy".

Within the last 24 hours, friends of his in New Zealand launched an online fundraiser called: "Support in getting Declan back home".

At the time of writing, a sum of $32,850 had already been donated to the appeal by close to 300 individual donors.

"Our beloved Declan Curley was suddenly taken from us on Saturday, 12 February in tragic circumstances in Wellington," wrote the appeal's organiser, Rachel Calvert, on the Give A Little donations page.

"He leaves behind his heartbroken partner Sam and her daughter Mia, who Declan loved and treated as his own, his loving parents Tommy and Rena, family and friends both in Ireland and New Zealand.

"Declan will be heading home to County Roscommon, Ireland, accompanied by his NZ family, Sam, Mia, Caolan and Áine.

"This is a very difficult time for all involved, not only emotionally but financially. There has been an overwhelming reach from many friends in how they can help," stated Rachel.

"This page has been set up to help support and fund the significant costs Sam and Mia face in accompanying him back to Ireland and help support them during this awful time, and to try repay the wonderful team at the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT).

"The fantastic KBRT have been helping with the arrangements and costs of his repatriation. Declan's NZ family would love to repay them as much as possible so they can continue to support families who will unfortunately need them in such awful circumstances."

A police spokesperson in New Zealand told the Westmeath Independent that it was continuing to investigate the circumstances of the collision which claimed Declan's life.

"Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing," said the spokesperson, who added that "our thoughts are with (Declan's) family and friends at this time."

In New Zealand, the local man worked as a credit control manager for Momentum, a recruitment company.

Prior to his move there he spent twelve years in the civil service in Ireland, having spells with the departments of Defence, Social Protection, and Education and Skills.

He is a past pupil of Cornafulla National School and its principal, Joan Conway, said there was a palpable sense of sadness and loss in air this week following his passing.

"He was a very quiet and well-behaved boy with very supportive parents. A lovely personality, he was very popular with his friends," she said.

"He would be in pictures on the wall in the school and it's very sad that a past pupil has died in such tragic circumstances."

The board of management and staff at Cornafulla NS extended their sincere sympathies to Declan's family.

On social media, Clann na nGael GAA club shared a photo of Declan as part of an underage team at the club and said it was with "deep regret and sadness" that it heard the news of his "untimely" death last weekend.

"Declan played underage football with Clann na nGael and followed the progress of Clann and his beloved Roscommon with great interest," said the club.

Clann na nGael extended its sympathies to "Declan's parents Tommy and Rena, his partner Samantha, the extended Curley and Ganly families, and also Declan's many friends and neighbours on their terrible loss."

A number of former work colleagues of Declan's have been mourning his passing with messages of condolence online this week.

"You will be missed by so many. Heaven will be a brighter place from now on," read one of the tributes.

Another ex-colleague who worked with him in the Department of Social Protection said he was, "a character, great fun and yet very wise... he was a credit to his parents and will never be forgotten by those who met him."

The Curley family have expressed their gratitude to the Irish community in New Zealand.

Their house is strictly private, and funeral arrangements are to be made later.