DEVASTATED
Sophia’s family ‘can’t believe she’s gone’ as €36k is raised
THE family of a three-yearold killed by a bus can’t believe their little girl is gone forever, a friend said.
Sophia Melnychuk was knocked down while out playing near her home on Tuesday.
Now family friend Lee Murphy has set up an online fundraiser for her devastated parents in Castle Heights, Carrick-on-suir, Co Tipperary.
He said in a post: “I’ve lived in Carrick-on-suir my whole life and have never seen such despair or been a part of such heartbreak for a family. They are devastated and cannot believe their little girl Sophia is gone forever.
“We have been close friends with this family for a long time and want to support them any way we can and as best we can.
“We have set up this Gofund Me to support the family financially to help with Sophia’s funeral and other costs.
“This tragedy has shocked the town and all the people of
Carrick-on-suir and I hope all of you reading this will want to help and support this beautiful family through this heartbreak.”
Today the fundraiser, entitled “Sophia’s Farewell”, had raised over €36,000 of its initial €6,000 goal in 24 hours – showing the massive outpouring of grief in the community.
Local Sinn Fein councillor David Dunne said: “It’s unbelievable. I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and my heart goes out to them – and to all the Eastern European community from Carrick-on-suir and for all the people who have been affected by this tragedy.
“They would be a well-known family within the Eastern European community here and local people are shocked.”