Fundraiser to repatriate tragic Tom back home to Mayo

A FUNDRAISER has been launched to repatriate the body of a Mayo man killed in Georgia.

The body of tragic Tom Kennedy (28) was found on October 9 in the Mtk'uari River.

Police in Georgia have launched a murder investigation and a number of people have been detained in relation to his death.

Tom was a gifted musician, singer/songwriter who studied at MTU Cork School of Music.

From Lahardaun, he was son of Eddie and Cathy Kennedy, and one of a family of seven boys.

An online fundraiser set up today to bring Tom home has had a massive response, with €9,000 donated in the first few hours alone.

Tom's cousin Olivia Barrett, from Claremorris, who set up the appeal to bring him home, said he died 'brutally and tragically at the hands of five evil men'.

“We are absolutely devastated. There are no words. Life will never be the same again without our beautiful talented boy,” she explained on the GoFundMe appeals page.

Added Olivia: “It is currently very difficult to repatriate Tom home due to the Covid-19 restrictions, so we are setting up this GoFundMe Page to raise funds to bring Tom home as soon as possible. This is costly, and with the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, we will get him to his beloved home of County Mayo.”

Any funds raised over what is required will be donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which is providing invaluable support to the Kennedy and Barrett family at this extremely difficult time.

Any donation big or small will be greatly appreciated.

You can donate here: https://bit.ly/3FIY1tc