SDLP councillor Michael Savage has called for emotional and financial support to be provided to the family of the mother and daughter who died in the horror murder-suicide incident at Glin Ree Court in Newry.
Speaking on Friday afternoon as he and Justin McNulty MLA, accompanied Council Chairman Cllr Mark Murnin, laid a wreath at the murder scene as a mark of respect on the behalf of the people of Newry, Councillor Savage welcomed the swift response of the Southern Health Trust in providing counselling support to family members, friends, neighbours and classmates of the deceased.
Backing the setting up of a fund to support the family of Gisele and Allison Marimon-Herrera to help with travel, accommodation and potential repatriation costs, the councillor said the terrible event “has shocked and touched the hearts of the people of our city”.
“The wider family of Gisele and Allison are dealing with the trauma of their loss far from these shores and I believe we need to do whatever we can to remove any financial burden on them as they struggle to come to terms with the death of their loved ones,” he said.
“I have had an initial conversation with the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and while they do not have a remit to repatriate from Ireland, the local charity has expressed a willingness to contribute to any repatriation fund that can be set up over the coming days if required.
“I spoke with Council CEO Liam Hannaway on Thursday afternoon to see what we could do to support the families and those close to the deceased and he contacted Shane Devlin CEO of the Trust who confirmed that a full counselling support initiative has been activated. I would also like to pay tribute to the local PSNI for their professionalism in dealing with a very distressing incident and the manner in which they engaged with residents of the area in very traumatic circumstances,” Councillor Savage added.