'Every little helps' says Chair of Donegal Hospice

Dr James McDaid, Chair of the Donegal Hospice.

THE Chairman of Donegal Hospice says the €1,400 in donations made to the organisation by court defendants will help pay for renovations at its Letterkenny premises.

Figures released by the Irish Court Service reveal that 27 charities across the county benefited from the so-called Court Poor Box in 2016.

The poor box system is offered to defendants who have committed relatively minor offences. To avoid convictions and fines for crimes such as drunk and disorderly, breaches of the peace or lesser road traffic breaches, offenders can instead be offered the chance to make a donation to a charity.

Of the 27 charities that benefited locally last year, St Vincent de Paul was the biggest recipient.

A close second was the Donegal Hospice with more than €100 per month handed over by petty offenders.

Local GP James McDaid is Chair of the Hospice. He said that every penny helped when it came to the day-to-day running of the centre and the money raked in through the court poor box would help with upcoming renovations.

“Every single penny means so much to the Hospice and donations like this are vital,” Dr McDaid said.

“Sometimes the court even sends the individual up to do a bit of work in the hospice which is great because every little helps and any assistance we get is gratefully accepted.”

It cost just shy of €3 million to keep the Donegal Hospice running last year, €980,000 of which had to be sourced jointly between the centre itself and the HSE.

Plans are in place to extend the Hospice building at Knockmona from six rooms to ten rooms. It is estimated that building work will begin within six months.

Ahead of that, the existing rooms are to be given a makeover, with painting and decorating work due to start almost immediately.

“The rooms have become a bit dilapidated after 14 years so we felt it was time to renovate them,” Dr McDaid said.

“We are taking advice on what patients want because at the end of the day, we are only the caretakers of the Hospice. It belongs to Donegal and the people of Donegal.

“The renovations are likely to be costly so every penny really does help and is gratefully accepted.”

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