Actress Roma Downey has donated a “very generous sum” of her own money to help families in fuel-poverty in a Derry parish heat their homes through this week’s cold weather.
Ms Downey, who is originally from the city, made the donation at the request of close friend and well-known Derry priest, Fr Paddy O’Kane.
The fund was being used initially to pay for oil and gas for families in Fr Paddy’s Holy Family parish but is now being rolled out throughout Derry to help people cope with the sub-zero temperatures.
“I did a bit more research in it and discovered more and more people were having to choose between eating and heating,” Fr O'Kane said.
He said he had been in homes in his parish were people were forced to wear overcoats during the day because they had no heating.
“I approached Roma and she has donated a very generous sum of money. I don’t want any home in Derry to be cold this week,” he said.
He said local oil company, Ferguson Fuels agreed to supply oil at a good price while Derry accountant, Pat Durkan (a brother of former SDLP leader, Mark Durkan) agreed to administer the fund pro bono. A number of other people have also started contributing to the fund.
Fr O'Kane said anyone in need of heating oil should contact him on 028 71 267070.
