Sick fraud Gardai investigating fake fundraising page set up after death of Tralee man Tom Ross

Gardai have launched an investigation into a fake fundraising page set up after the tragic death of Tom Ross.

The well-known builder was killed when the chimney collapsed in a building on Ashe Street, Tralee, County Kerry which he was working in on Saturday November 28th.

Mr Ross, (68) was laid to rest in Fenit on Tuesday December 1st.

In aftermath of his death, a fundraising page with his name appeared on Facebook.

The page was asking for donations towards the cost of Mr Ross’s funeral but has since been deleted.

Mr Ross’s family confirmed the page was a fake, and that pictures on the page which showed members of the family were used without permission.

The have urged the public not to contribute.

Speaking to Radio Kerry, Garda Sergeant Tim O’Keefe said that often with fake fundraising scams such as this, the pages are created outside Ireland.

Funds are most often donated through legitimate fundraising sites and the links to these phony campaigns are then promoted and shared via Facebook.

Sgt O'Keefe said: "Those companies are based outside this jurisdiction and a lot of their headquarters are based in the US."

Local Sinn Fein TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, who was a friend of Mr Ross urged the public "not to contribute to the fake Facebook page under any circumstances."

Earlier in the week Deputy Daly had revealed Mr Ross's kindness to him when he built his home by deferring payments.

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Online Editors