PSNI and Garda present New York disaster fund cheque

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and his southern Irish counterpart Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne presented the US government with a $232,000 (£162,375) cheque to the New York disaster fund.

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne presented the cheque to US-Ireland Alliance board member Sean Melly at the Gardai headquarters in Dublin.

The money will go towards the families of police and fire department officers who were killed and injured in the terrorist attack of September 11.

The fundraising efforts had been part of a joint exercise by police services on both of the border, with the PSNI raising £35,700 of the total amount in contributions made through the service's payroll.

The funds will go to the Innisfree Fund, set up by the US-Ireland Alliance, which will provide holidays in Northern Ireland and the Republic to the families of the murdered police officers and fire officers.

Afterwards, Sir Ronnie said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland is delighted to contribute to the Innisfree Fund to in some small way help alleviate the great pain caused to families affected by the September 11 disaster. That families with Irish connections North and South can come on holiday here and hopefully ease their great pain is a unique means by which we can be of some real assistance."

Commissioner Byrne spoke of the "fruitful and successful relationship" which had long been enjoyed between An Garda Siochana and the New York Police Department. He said: "This small token to-day from the police services of this island confirms, yet again, the affinity that exists between police officers and will express to our colleagues in the NYPD our sincere sympathy, friendship and support."

Responding to the contribution, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said: "The entire New York Police Department is grateful to our fellow police officers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for their generous support of the families of our fallen comrades. There has been a strong tie between the island of Ireland and the NYPD and we are touched by this outpouring of support for these families."

The Innisfree Fund is being supported the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation and the Irish Hotels Federation.

(GMcG)