GoFundMe page set up to bring Crossmaglen RTC victim home

Over £1,000 has been raised in memory of the man who died following a road traffic collision in Crossmaglen on Friday evening.

He was was 36-year old Anthony James Atkins, who lived in the Crossmaglen area, but was originally from the Birmingham area.

Following a post mortem examination it is believed that Anthony, who was known as ‘Cookie’ to his friends, was lying in the roadway when he was struck by a car shortly after midnight on Friday night into Saturday morning.

A PSNI statement said that the driver of the car remained at the scene and has been assisting with the investigation.

Detective Inspector Michael Winters said: “I would firstly like to offer my condolences to Anthony’s family and friends at this terrible time.

"In order to complete a full investigation on their behalf I would continue to appeal for anyone who was travelling on the Cullaville Road on Friday night/ early Saturday morning around the time of the collision and who saw anything or captured dash-cam footage which could assist us with our enquiries, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference 2078 01/11/24.

"I would also ask anyone who met Anthony earlier on Friday and who could help us trace his movements throughout the evening to please get in touch.”

Anthony’s cousin, Laura Davis, said that Anthony had been in Ireland for the last 10 years with family helping to look after a relative.

She explained on GoFundMe that she had set up the page to bring his body home to Birmingham to his family and friends so he can be buried.

“Any donations welcome and will help to the family towards getting him to his final resting place, so please donate whatever people can afford whether it's 1p or £1,” she said.

"Let's get Cookie home and buried like he deserves.”

To donate to the GoFundMe page click here

Crossmaglen charity, Something More For You, said they were “shocked and saddened” to learn that Anthony, who was a regular visitor to their Community Hub, had passed away. “The last thing we did for him was to sing 'Happy Birthday' on his 36th birthday and give him a present and take a photo,” they posted on social media.

"He left with love as he was valued and wanted. We join with others who looked out for him with our prayers and sympathy.”