Shock as donations bound for Chernobyl are vandalised in Co.Kilkenny

A lorry containing €140,000 worth of donations bound for children in Chernobyl has been vandalised in Co. Kilkenny.
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According to Jim Kavanagh of Chernobyl Children International, the vehicle was broken into while parked in the Hebron Industrial Estate.

Commenting on the damage, Jim said: "About a third of it is destroyed and there is something in the order of 10 to 12,000 nappies missing. They were at the back door of the trailer and were in nappy boxes. They appear to be all gone."

Appealing to the public for help, Jim said: "If there's anybody reading this out there, companies that might donate a pallet of nappies, please get in touch."

The Kilkenny branch of Chernobyl Children International has been active for two decades and began fundraising for the items, which also included toys, clothes, shoes and bedding, last July.

Jim struggled to account for the crime, saying: "It's very difficult to quantify the amount of damage." and while discussing the effect of the vandalism, Jim said: "These are people who are literally living with nothing. They are living in camps and makeshift places for sleeping and that was where the donations were all going."

An individual has been charged in connection with the incident and is due to appear in Kilkenny District Court in April.