The family of 40-year-old Adrian O’Kane, who was knocked down and killed by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol while on a stag weekend in Magalluf ten days ago, are still searching for the truth as to what really happened in the early hours of Sunday 23 April.
Adrian’s brother and sister flew over to Majorca last week to hire the services of a local lawyer to investigate the case and also lodge a private case against the driver, who is currently being held on remand in Palma prison with bail having been denied.
On Saturday, younger brother and business partner Laurence, sisters Sonia and Stephanie flew back to the UK with their brother’s body. His death shocked the local community where they lived near Birmingham and a fund was set up to raise the 8,000 pounds required to repatriate the body - he had no travel insurance.
Within a week over 30,000 pounds had been raised, some 400 per cent more than the initial target and all the outstanding money will go to Adrian’s two teenage daughters. Writing on the appeal page, Stephanie O’Kane thanked the 550 donors and confirmed that his body was returned on Friday night.
The ultimate tribute came on Saturday during the match between Birmingham City, a team he devoutly supported, and Huddersfield at St. Andrews. Mr. O’Kane was remembered, with his picture posted on the stadium scoreboard and printed in the matchday programme.
Stephanie O’Kane said in a post: "Thank you to each and everyone of you who have supported Adrian’s family with the cost of repatriating him back home. Due to your tremendous support we managed to get him home today. We all thank you sincerely and will keep you posted on funeral arrangements in due course. Thank you from all of the O’Kanes."
Fiona O’Riordan, who set up the appeal, also wrote on the JustGiving appeal page: "Our family is overwhelmed by the tremendous support both financial, physically and emotionally we are receiving from far and wide. Words can’t express the magnitude of loss we feel, and know that you are all as heartbroken as us."
But while the donations for the two daughters continue to come, the family is desperate for information about what happened on the night of the tragic accident. The alarm was raised by a taxi driver and Laurence said that his brother Adrian, whom he last saw on the morning of the Friday and some 30 friends came out to Magalluf for his best friend’s stag weekend, was by no means a big drinker. "He was a real family man, still lived at home with mum and very nearly didn’t come, but because it was his best friend, he went.
"But we still want eye witnesses to come forward, someone must know something in Magalluf."
2 comments
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Julian Simms - what do you mean by that comment?
"Knocked down". Who told you that ?