Northern Ireland

Family of Co Tyrone woman who died from coronavirus raise £54,000 in her memory

Nuala McLaughlin's daughter Orla, mother Claire and son Eoin raised £54,000 in her memory
Nuala McLaughlin's daughter Orla, mother Claire and son Eoin raised £54,000 in her memory Nuala McLaughlin's daughter Orla, mother Claire and son Eoin raised £54,000 in her memory

THE family of a Co Tyrone mother-of-two who died after battling coronavirus have raised more than £50,000 in her memory.

Relatives and friends of Nuala McLaughlin took part in a 5k walk close to her family home in Glencull, Ballygawley to celebrate her life.

They said they wanted to hold an event as a way of "remembering and celebrating Nuala and all those who lost their lives to Covid".

Ms McLaughlin (43) passed away in December after testing positive for the virus the month before. She died at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, after working for the Western Trust for two decades.

Her brother Fr Peter McAnenly of St Patrick's Cathedral Parish in Armagh had said they wanted to "celebrate Nuala as well as supporting two worthy causes".

Last Sunday, Ms McLaughlin's children Orla and Eoin and her mother Claire presented a total of £54,000 raised from the walk, which was held in July.

The money was shared equally between the intensive care unit in the South West Area Hospital and to Child Support Services, which was a cause "close to Nuala's heart".

In a statement, the family said they "wish to thank all who took part in the walk, all who gave donations and helped sponsor the event and all who offered support or help in any way".

It added that they "also thank all who walked in memory of Nuala in many other places throughout the country and beyond on the day".