Ticket sales for charity event hit by negative online comments

A CHILDREN’S charity has urged members of the public to support a fundraising event due to be held this weekend after it was subjected to negative comments online.

Abusive comments were posted on the Facebook page of the Jack and Jill Foundation after the charity was nominated as the recipient of funds that will be raised at a musical concert and dinner, featuring the Irish Guards Band, at the K-Club in Straffan, Co Kildare, on October 5.

The concert was organised by the Security and Emergency Services Ireland Forum (SESIF), a cross-border body that promotes the work done by the emergency services on the island of Ireland.

Jack and Jill provide nursing care and support for children with severe neurological development issues, as well as offering some respite services to their parents and families.

The charity needs to raise over

?¬2 million annually from private fundraising to stay afloat.

One of the negative messages posted on Facebook questioned why Jack and Jill was supporting the British Army, which it claimed was responsible for the deaths of children in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Another typical message criticised the involvement of the Irish Guards regiment during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Last week, the socialist republican movement Eirigi issued a statement saying that it intended to hold a protest outside the courthouse in Naas, Co Kildare, on Saturday, September 29, to voice its opposition to the involvement of the Irish Guards Band in the event.

The group claimed the Security and Emergency Services Ireland was an organisation that was

“committed to rehabilitating the image of Britain’s occupation forces in Ireland

?.

A spokesperson for Jack and Jill said that sales of tickets for the fundraiser, which cost e40, had been adversely affected by the online campaign against the event.

“We know the campaign against the fundraiser has had an impact because you only have to look at the comments on our Facebook page,

? the spokesperson said.

“We were shocked at the tone of the comments. We just wish some of the negative energy that was put into a campaign like this would help us with fundraising. We need all the help we can get.

?

The spokesperson added:

“We would urge members of the public to support Jack and Jill in any way they can.

?

Anyone who would like to support or buy tickets for the event can log on to www.jackandjill.ie/how-you-can-help/irish-guards-band