THE work of a charity that has helped bring the bodies of almost 1,300 people who have died overseas back to Ireland over the last decade is to be explored in a new Irish language documentary.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust was founded by the parents of Newry man Kevin Bell, who was killed in a hit-and-run collision in New York in 2013.
A fundraising campaign to help repatriate the body of the 26-year-old got underway in the wake of his death, and after more money was raised than needed, his parents, Colin and Eithne Bell decided to use the extra funds to help other families facing the pain and cost of bringing deceased loved ones home to Ireland.
Since founding the charity, it has helped almost 1,300 Irish families by covering the costs of repatriation, and their work is the focus of a documentary to be screened on BBC NI tonight.
Titled Bás as Baile, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund film made by Clean Slate Television explores how the Trust has helped bring back the bodies of Irish people from locations as far as Sierra Leone and Azerbaijan. The Trust estimates it assists between 15 and 20 families per month, who are facing costs of up to £12,000 to transport their loved ones' remains.
"It’s terrible to lose a child, but when that child is abroad and you think that he or she is alone there, and you’re here and there is nothing you can do. All you want is to have them home," Colin Bell said of his charity's vital work.
Eithne Bell added: "It’s a great legacy for Kevin and if that’s why he was put on this earth, then that has been something."
Bás as Baile will be screened at 10pm on Monday April 4 on BBC 2 NI.
