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

3. 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.

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

8. 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.

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