A FUEL poverty fund set up by a Derry priest with the help of Hollywood actress Roma Downey has had to be suspended because of concerns over false claims.
Warm Hearth, Warm Heart was established last week by Fr Paddy O'Kane after seeing people face an “eat or heat” choice during cold weather.
However he revealed that the scheme - which received a "very generous" donation from Derry-born Ms Downey, a long-time friend - had been paused because "a small minority" of claimants were not genuine.
“I was aware that some people were taking advantage of the scheme which saddened me. I was depending on people’s honesty, totally on their honesty,” he said.
Fr O’Kane said there had been a huge demand for help after he launched the fund.
Within the first few days, more than £10,000 worth of oil had been ordered for people who were struggling to heat their homes.
However, after discovering one case himself where a request for oil was not needed, he was "aghast that there are people out there just taking advantage of this scheme".
Fr O’Kane added that he was extremely grateful to local businesses who supported the scheme and hoped it would be re-opened at a future date.
He said Ms Downey, best known for her role in the US television series Touched by an Angel, had offered to support a project in his Holy Family parish and he decided to use the money to help people who could not afford fuel.
The actress and producer today releases a book, Box of Butterflies, which discusses her faith and recalls her early life in Derry.
