Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence Presentation to Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade and Defence Thursday 22nd September 2016

History of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust 16th June 2013 – the birth of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT). KBRT have now repatriated 210 loved ones to their families in Ireland since Kevin’s untimely death in 2013 from as far away as Australia, Argentina, South Korea, the USA to name just a few countries to practically every county in Ireland. The Trust operates on a 32 counties basis for all sides of the community, creed, colour and circumstances of death. KBRT opened an office on the 5th September 2016.

Objectives To provide financial assistance to bereaved families to repatriate the body (or bodies) of a loved one(s) who died outside Ireland. To maintain the Trust as a permanent legacy of Kevin Bell. To sustain the Trust by having on-going fundraising activities. To recruit members of the Trust to sustain its purpose and ideas

Growth of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust REPATRIATIONS  16th June 2013 - 16th June 2014 26 16th June 2014 - 16th June 2015 42 16th June 2015 – to date 142 Total to date 210

Repatriations by country/county Repatriations by Country (as of September 2016) Repatriations by County Argentina 1 Connaught Munster Australia 41 Galway 9 Clare 2 Austria Leitrum Cork 13 Belgium Mayo 11 Kerry 3 Britain 66 Roscommon 6 Limerick Bulgaria Sligo 5 Tipperary Cambodia Total 32 Waterford Canada 4 31 Dominican Republic Ecuador Leinster Ulster Germany Carlow Antrim 30 Greece Dublin 29 Armagh Holland Kildare Cavan India Kilkenny Donegal Indonesia Laois Down 15 Italy Longford Derry 8 Jamaica Louth 12 Fermanagh Loas Meath Monaghan Malaysia Offaly Tyrone Malta Westmeath 83 Morocco Wexford New Zealand Wicklow Phillipines 64 Poland Portugal South Korea Total Repatriations to Date 210 Spain 17 Thailand 7 Turkey USA 25 Vietnam

Costs per Repatriation COUNTRIES Costs in EUR AUSTRALIA 7,000 - 9,000 EUROPE 3,000 – 5,000 FAR EAST 4,000 – 6,000 SOUTH AMERICA 5,000 – 7,000 UK 1,000 - 2,000 USA 10,000 – 12,000 Costs can vary depending on the circumstances of the death, local charges and hospital release costs.

Governance Nine trustees consisting of 3 family members, including Kevin’s twin brother, friends of Kevin, ex-teachers, accountants and a Credit Union Manager. Regular Trustee meeting to discuss and agree on current and future matters. Trustee are involved in all financial dealings and decision making. Registered Charity since January 2015 with the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland and application for charity status in the Republic of Ireland is in process.

Awards 2016 Official GAA Charity. 2016 Nominated by the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as one of his official charities. June 2016 - Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards – Overcoming Adversity. September 2015 – Ulster Tatler Charity of the Year. February 2015 – GAA President’s Award (Liam O’Neill)