Bring them Home campaign get support

The Bring Them Home campaign was given a boost with the news that an Oireachtas committee is to support their cause.

Members of the Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs unanimously agreed to ask the relevant Minister to amend the current legislation.

Friends of Keith O’Reilly and Brian Forde, two NUIG students who died tragically in the USA last summer, started a campaign in March to urge the government to amend the 2004 Civil Registration Act in order for their deaths to be officially recorded in Ireland.

Over 3,100 people have joined the Facebook campaign.

Keith’s parents Liam and Yvonne appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on April 28^th in Dublin. They say they will not get closure on Keith’s death until the law is changed and they get an Irish death certificate.

Keith (pictured) and Brian are two of 244 Irish citizens who lost their lives overseas in 2009.

Eamon O’Cuiv, Minister for Social Protection, issued a statement following the committee meeting, saying that he would review the legislation.

The Bring Them Home campaign organised a picnic style gathering in the NUI Galway Memorial Garden on April 22^nd to remember friends who had died in the past year and to raise awareness of the campaign.

Co-founder of the campaign Eamonn Fitzgerald stated, “The sheer number of people who’ve gotten behind us has been incredible. It really shows you that there is a serious desire for the law to be changed, not only to remember Keith and Brian, but for all our fellow countrymen we’ve lost overseas. Let’s hope we can give them the recognition they deserve.”

Fellow co-founder Darren Lyons added, "Before Keith's parents brought this issue to my attention, I had no idea the act existed. After some research I realised what a disgrace it was and offered to help Liam and Yvonne O’Reilly in anyway I could, which, with the help of many others, brought about the "Help Bring Them Home" campaign. The campaign is about getting the deaths of our good friends recognised in Ireland. It aims to win the right for any future deaths abroad to be registered in Ireland.”

The Bring them Home picnic