Kevin Bell Trust has assisted in 2000 repatriations

Kevin was killed in a hit-and-run incident in New York in 2013

A charity that helps to bring the bodies of people who have died abroad back to Ireland has assisted in its 2000th repatriation.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) was established by the Bell family from Newry, County Down, following a personal tragedy.

Colin Bell's 26-year-old son, Kevin, was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in New York in June 2013.

He said it's a bittersweet moment reaching the milestone.

'Help each other in the worst, terrible times'

"I wouldn't say it's a happy day, it's just the fact we want to mark the fact and really it shows the generosity of the community in Ireland and I think that has to be recognised," Mr Bell told BBC News NI.

The charity, which is funded entirely through donations and fundraising, was set up to alleviate the financial hardship for bereaved families repatriating loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances.

It can cost several thousand pounds to repatriate bodies and, until the trust was established, families had to pay for it themselves because neither the UK or Irish governments cover the expense.

"When Kevin died Newry came round us like a blanket, it was unreal," Colin Bell told the GAA Social podcast in May.

The community in Newry, through a variety of fundraisers, helped raise in the region of £150,000 to bring Kevin back home.

Colin Bell set up the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, with his wife Eithne, following the death of their son

Mr Bell set up the charity as he wanted to give something back after the kindness of the local community, who rallied round the family after Kevin's death.

"It shows the goodness of people. We run it in name but it is a charity that we just facilitate, the families in Ireland helping other families," Mr Bell said.

"I can’t exaggerate the fact that it’s based on communities north and south, it’s an Irish thing that people will come to help each other in the worst, terrible times."

Taking the stress off families

The charity mostly deals with families who have lost their loved ones in tragic circumstances.

"Unfortunately accidents happen and people can be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Bell said.

"No one knows what can happen really."

The charity's main work, he said, "is taking the stress off families at a time when they really don't know what to do".

"If somebody contacts us, we can say to a family, ‘look, you don’t have to do anything, we’ll take care of it all’, at a time when they don’t really know who to contact or how to go about it."

Having operated for 11 years, Mr Bell said the trust now has contacts all over the world and they often "know straight away who to go to".

Marking their 2000th repatriation, the charity said it has helped return the bodies of more than 130 people since July of this year.

"We thought our amazing supporters should know how wonderful community is in Ireland and the diaspora," the trust posted on social media on Sunday.

Reflecting on his the passing of his son and the work the charity has done to help others, Mr Bell said: "Part of the reason we set up the charity was to keep Kevin’s memory alive, Kevin’s name is mentioned in lots of countries across the world now.

"It's a tribute to Kevin really."