Fundraiser for children of Markethill road death couple passes £120k in first 24 hours

Patrick Grimley died following a four-vehicle collision on the Gosford Road near Markethill in the early hours of Saturday, November 4 after celebrating his 40th birthday.

His wife Ciera died a week later from her injuries.

Mrs Grimley was the third victim of the accident, which also claimed the life of the couple's neighbour, Ciara McElvanna.

Mr and Mrs Grimley leave behind three children -- Tadhg, Mya and Cadhla -- and a fundraising page on GoFundMe was set up to help provide for them "in their practical everyday needs".

The GoFundMe page raised more than GBP30,000 on Monday morning, but that rose to more than GBP100,000 in a matter of hours, thanks to donations from almost 3,000 individuals and companies.

The target was GBP1,000, but by 9pm, the total had passed GBP123,000.

The message on the fundraising page, started by Lorraine Grimley, reads: "Anyone reading this probably knows of the tragedy that has fell on the Grimley children recently.

"A family outing celebrating Patrick's 40th birthday ended in tragedy and three children have been left without their parents and another family without their beautiful mother.

"This tragedy has plunged us all in grief and hopeless as to how to help them.

"This is the only practical thing we can do.

"Any money raised will be used for the children to assist them in their practical day to day needs.

"If you can help please do so and if you can't please keep these children in your thoughts and prayers."

Speaking to Armagh I, Lorraine said: "It's going to take a village to raise these children now.

"We all live in Kilcreevy here in Madden, but I don't think the impact of what has happened has really hit us.

"People were approaching me to see what we could do for the children and that's where the GoFundMe has come from -- people just want to help as much as they can.

"We'll never forget getting that phone call.

"As adults we can't comprehend what has happened, so how are these children meant to comprehend this? There are no words. They did everything right that night.

They went for a night out and got a taxi home.

"They sent the children home early to be safe and they got a taxi bus with their friends. It was the right thing to do but, all of a sudden, they're gone.

"The three wee children without their parents, that photograph was taken that night of the accident. That was a photograph they took in Dundalk and the smiling faces.

The children were so happy because they had surprised Patrick, he didn't know they would be going.

The six friends were out and the children gathered around Patrick to surprise him, it's just so unfair how it ended.

"It's going to take the village to get these children up.

Madden is a brilliant community anyway, no matter what, they will be on hand to help."

The fundraising page is available on GoFundMe by searching Patrick and Ciera's children.