Heartless thugs smashed down a door of a children’s charity and stole cash which was intended to make the dreams of seriously ill kids come true.
The shocking burglary took place on Tuesday evening at the Share a Dream Foundation’s building in Limerick and has left staff “totally devastated.”
Projects Manager Ciara Brolly told The Irish Daily Mirror said a couple of thousand euro was stolen from the premises, including the centre’s cash register.
She said: “We had a big donation come in from a lot of airports, they took that.
“We have a cash register in the centre, they took that. It was a snatch, grab and run.”
Photos taken at the scene show the glass front door smashed to pieces by the callous thugs.
A statement from the charity said said: “Mindless vandals broke into Share a Dream - Dreamland causing substantial damage and stealing funds we had raised to make dreams come true for 15 children fighting terrible life-threatening illnesses.
“With posters and photos everywhere in our centre detailing the work we do, what kind of vandals would smash in the front door knowing they are stealing the dreams of very sick children? We are totally devastated.”
“Due to the increasing demand on our services we are totally stretched and finding it very difficult to raise funds to help some 1,200 children each year as receive no funding and rely totally on the wonderful support of community.”
Ciara added that the charity will also have to fork out to repair the broken door.
She revealed CCTV footage showed the robbers were wearing gloves and their faces were covered, making it hard to identify them.
Ciara said: “It’s devastating, I don’t understand anyone doing that when they know it’s a charity and especially a charity for sick kids, kids who are dying and we’re trying to make their last wish.”
Appealing to those who committed the robbery, Ciara said: “Maybe think about it and think about what they’ve done, we have to go now and raise more money to help the kids.
"If they have a heart at all, they might come back and give us the money back. You don’t know when we might be going to them to help their child.”
A garda spokesperson told The Irish Mirror: “Gardaí are investigating a burglary that took place at a premises on Dublin Road, Limerick, at approximately 8:30pm.
"A sum of cash and a number of items were taken from the property.
“No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.”
Share a Dream have appealed to anyone who was in the area on Tuesday evening and has information to contact Henry Street Garda Station.
Anyone wishing to help through fundraising, sponsorship or volunteering or in making dreams come true can contact www.shareadream.ie or 061200080.
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