‘Do NOT donate’: Mum of Dawn Croke warns of fake fundraising page

The family of Donegal woman Dawn Croke who died in a freak accident last week have urged people not to donate to a fraud fundraising campaign.

Dawn was killed when she was struck by a jeep in the grounds of St Crona's National School in her native Dungloe last Thursday evening. She had pushed her partner Patrick McHugh's six-year-old daughter out of the vehicle's path seconds before. Dawn's mum has revealed that the family has become aware of a fake online fundraising page set up to purportedly raise €10,000 for the woman's funeral expenses. The page was in the name of Rosses Community School, where Dawn had been a teacher. Writing on Facebook, Anne said that this and any other similar pages were fake.

"It has come to our attention that a false (page) has been set up in the name of the Rosses Community School. “Please DO NOT donate and report wherever you see it. “Any (funding) or similar sites are fake accounts. “So please do NOT donate. We are very upset about this so please please share everywhere around the globe. Thank you."

Hundreds turned out to mourn Dawn as she was laid to rest in Dungloe earlier this week. Mourners heard that the mum-of-two was a "pleasant, outgoing and happy person" who gave "so much" to her family and the community.