The parents of a Chinese student who died violently two weeks ago in Dublin have thanked the Government and the Irish public for their support after well-wishers donated more than €30,000 to a special fund for them in the past week. Kitty Holland reports
Zhang Chun Song and Ji Dong Song, the parents of Zhi Song (23), borrowed money to travel to Dublin after their son was killed. He was fatally stabbed after interrupting an intruder in the house he shared with five other Chinese nationals in the Rialto area of Dublin.
Initially his parents faced the cost of bringing home their son's body, estimated at €10,000. But the Department of Justice has agreed to meet the cost of repatriating the body, saying the Songs' case was one of "extreme hardship".
Both parents, who went to considerable expense to come to Dublin at short notice after the tragedy, are retired and have a combined income of €160 a month.
The couple say they were dependent on Zhi's future income to support them in the coming years. He had been planning to return to China next month.
Mrs Song's health is not good and she has been hospitalised three times in the last year.
In Dublin the Chinese Information Centre opened a bank account last week and appealed to the public for contributions to help the family.
The account was closed yesterday and a cheque for €34,161.06 was presented to the couple.
Speaking at the Stillorgan branch of Allied Irish Banks yesterday, where the account was held, the couple said they had been "touched by the love of the Irish people and the Chinese people here".
Looking drawn and still very distressed, Zhang Chun said: "My son's soul is in heaven and looking down on everyone who took care of us. The Irish Government and people are very good."
She added: "We want to especially thank the Chinese Information Centre and Zhi's friends who visit us every day we are here, and the Irish police."
She also thanked Tom Moran, owner of the Red Cow Hotel, who, after reading about their situation last weekend, invited them to stay "for as long as we needed" in his hotel.
Until then, they had been in a B&B and were finding the cost of feeding themselves difficult.
Dr Katherine Chan Mullen, director of the Chinese Information Centre, said the AIB staff had been "amazing" in allowing her to open the account and set up all the arrangements at such short notice. An official at the branch, Martin O'Rourke, said he had never seen such an outpouring of goodwill.
Dr Mullen said it was "so touching that the Irish and Chinese people came together in love and generosity".
The couple are hoping to bring their son's body home next week. The body has not yet been released as pathology reports have not been finalised.