FRIENDS and neighbours of tragic teen Ciaran Sweeney have come together to raise almost £700 in funeral funds for the 14-year-old’s family.
Ciaran, who had roots in Dublin, was found dead earlier this month after being missing from his Mansfield home since September 14.
But the local community has rallied around his grieving relatives as they try to raise money for the teenager’s funeral.
At a jumble sale and raffle on Tuesday, they raised £691.00 towards their £3,000 target.
“We are just happy to be able to raise some of the money so that we can give Ciaran a nice memorial service for everyone to come to,” family friend Lindsey Walker told The Irish Post.
Commenting on the success of the first fundraising event, tragic Ciaran’s mum Rheane O’Neill said she was “absolutely flabbergasted by the local support”.
The 14-year-old’s disappearance sent shockwaves through the local community, as hundreds of local people joined forces with police search teams in the hope they would find the boy.
But detectives later confirmed that a body found under water at a Mansfield quarry on October 1 was that of Ciaran, leaving his mother facing what she described as “the worst thing any family could face”.
“We are still very shocked and upset by what has happened,” Ms Walker said.
“But because we have a lot to focus on I think everybody is pulling together to do everything they can and earn the most money we possibly can earn.”
She added: “Ciaran’s family are just taking every day one at a time.”
A post-mortem examination has taken place, but Nottinghamshire Police said it could take several weeks for some tests to be completed as officers continue to work on establishing the full circumstance surrounding Ciaran’s death.
