A FRIEND of the Co Tyrone woman who lost her husband and mother in a tragic road crash has launched a fundraising appeal for the heartbroken family.
More than £12,000 had last night been donated to a GoFundMe page set up to help Shannon Rogers and her four young children.
Her husband Patrick Rogers (26) and mother Mary Duffy (52) died after they were involved in a collision outside Cookstown on St Stephen's Day at around 3.30pm.
A third victim, Jennifer Acheson, a mother-of-five from the Sandholes area near Cookstown, was driving a silver Volkswagen Golf. The 80-year-old is the sister of former UUP MP John Taylor, who is also known as Lord Kilclooney.
Shannon and the couple's four children were also injured in the crash and taken to hospital.
In a bid to help the family with funeral costs, a fundraising appeal has been launched by Casey Jade Campbell, a pal of Shannon.
Writing on the GoFundMe page, she said: "Shannon Duffy Rogers, a childhood friend of ours, has lost her mother and husband at the age of 26 and is left with four children who are now in the Royal Hospital receiving treatment.
"We felt that raising money to help with funeral costs or just to help Shannon in anyway is the least we can do. As a community and people we feel helpless so anything we can do, I think we should. Any bit of kindness is appreciated."
The first of the funerals of the crash victims is due to take place today.
Requiem Mass for Mr Rogers, who lived with his family in the Kildress area, outside Cookstown, will take place at St Joseph and St Malachys Church, Drummullan at noon. He will be buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Requiem Mass for Ms Duffy, who was from Dungannon and is survived by her husband Jim and daughter Shannon, is expected to take place tomorrow at St Patrick's Church at noon followed by burial in Carland Cemetery.
A service for Mrs Acheson will also take place tomorrow at Desertcreat Parish Church at 11.30am, with burial in the adjoining churchyard.
Meanwhile, the funeral of a Co Tyrone nurse who was killed in another St Stephen’s Day car crash will take place tomorrow.
Imelda Quinn, a mother-of-two who is understood to have turned 40 on Christmas Day, died after her car crashed on the M1 between Dungannon and Tamnamore.
No other vehicles were involved.
It is understood Ms Quinn, who was from Galbally, was travelling to work at Craigavon Area Hospital, where she was a children’s nurse.
A death notice described Ms Quinn as being "profoundly loved and sorrowfully missed" by her grieving friends and family.
Requiem Mass is due to take place in St John’s Church at noon followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery.
She is survived by her husband Gavin, daughters Nina and Norah, parents Cormac and Anne and wider family circle.
