THE family of Sinead O'Connor has thanked the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust for the charity's help in returning her body from England following the singer's death.
The charity, which helps families of those who die overseas in bringing their loved ones' remains back to Ireland, was named in a message of thanks from Ms O'Connor's family published on Friday.
The Dublin-born star, who was 56, died in July at her apartment in south London.
A funeral for the 'Nothing Compares 2 U' singer was held earlier this month in Bray, Co Wicklow, where she had previosuly lived for 15 years.
Read more:
- Sinead O'Connor: 1966 - 2023
- Ireland reacts to the death of Sinead O'Connor
- Work of Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust explored in new BBC Irish language documentary
In a notice published in the Irish Times, her family offered thanks to the "countless kind people who sympathised and offered condolences" following her death.
"The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust facilitated the bringing home of Sinéad’s body to Ireland, and we thank the Trust and all those in UK who helped in this task, especially Pat Savage, Colm Nolan, Mary McCarthy and John Reynolds," the notice said.
The Kevin Bell Trust is based in Newry and was founded by the family of 26-year-old Kevin Bell from the town, who was killed in a hit-and-run collision in New York in 2013.
His parents set up a fundraising campaign to help bring his body home following the tragedy, and after raising more than was needed, donated the excess funds to other families in similar circumstances before officially founding the trust to continue the work of assisting grieving families who lose loved ones overseas.
The charity has since helped almost 1,300 families, and was the focus of a BBC documentary last year.
Meanwhile, Sinead O'Connor's family also thanked President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for attending the singer's funeral, and Juli Ní Mhaoileóin, the 'Dingle druid' who led the ceremony alongside Muslim imam, Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri.
"We wish to thank Sinéad’s fans and admirers for the wonderful funeral procession they gave her past her old home in Bray and for the national and international outpouring of love and affection for Sinéad from the time of her passing," the notice added.
"The prayers and thanks of the extended O’Connor family are with you all."
