A fundraising campaign for a missionary from Laois, Brother Noel Bradshaw, who has been working with victims of the civil war in Sierra Leone, was boosted this week with the proceeds of a jewellery auction.
Brother Bradshaw was in newspaper headlines in 1999, when it was feared he had been taken hostage by rebel forces in Sierra Leone. However, it later emerged that he had been working in a remote area and had turned down a chance to be evacuated when the political situation deteriorated.
Brother Bradshaw, from Rathdowney, was then very ill with cerebral malaria and TB. He returned to Ireland for a short time, where he told the story of his work with the Makeni Catholic Mission on RT╔ radio.
Writer and broadcaster Deirdre Purcell, who was temporarily at the helm of the Marian Finucane show, was impressed by the man and his work.
Explaining her interest in Brother Bradshaw's work she said: "This was at the height of the horrendous civil war. Brother Bradshaw had made a conscious decision that in order to live and work among the people of Sierra Leone, he would not condemn any of the atrocities he witnessed."
Following medical treatment, Brother Bradshaw returned to Sierra Leone. But Deirdre Purcell received a letter from him about the situation there and his hope to raise money. He informed her that the water systems he had put in place had been deliberately poisoned and his school destroyed in his absence. He was hoping to raise £7,000 to reconstitute the water supply and a further £14,000 to establish a piggery.
Ms Purcell approached 100 women known to her, asking them to donate a piece of jewellery for an auction. The jewellery, including a Cartier watch and a diamond and emerald ring, was auctioned at Sheppards of Durrow, Co Offaly, on Tuesday, raising £7,000.
Ms Purcell had already collected £7,500 and sent it to Brother Bradshaw. Along with Tuesday's proceeds, she also has raised £5,000 from another donor. Donations to the Noel Bradshaw Fund may be made at Bank of Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin. The sort code is 900578 and the account number is 20519109.