Liam Mulcahy (left) of Cycle 4 Sick Children at a charity ride earlier this year with sports writer and former pro Paul Kimmage; a group of six representing the charity has been robbed in Liverpool this weekend.
The well known charity campaign Liam Mulcahy and his ‘Cycle 4 Sick Children’ organisation have been robbed on a trip to Liverpool where they were due to take part in a fundraiser for Hillsborough disaster advocacy group.
Limerick-based Mulcahy, who became a fundraiser after his Sophie was born with disabilities, had travelled to the UK to take part in the “Ride for the 96” event.
However, the van they had travelled from Ireland in on the car ferry was broken into as Mulcahy and the other five campaigners he had travelled with were in the Anfield stadium.
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The bikes of the six friends were stolen; each valued at an average of €3,000. And those who broke into their van did not stop at their cycling gear, taking their passports, cash, a satnav and even clothes.
The robbery has been reported to the police in Liverpool, but Mulcahy and his colleagues are travelling home in their van on a sailing this evening without any of the gear that was robbed.
He said they had parked their van in Venmore St in the city, which is right beside Liverpool FC’s famous ground, and had gone for a tour of the stadium when the robbery took place.
“We parked up literally across the road from Anfield,” he said.
“When we got back all our bikes were gone. The thieves took everything – our money, passports, even our jeans and socks.”
Police believe the window of the van was smashed at around 12 noon yesterday and that whoever gained access to the vehicle quickly helped themselves.
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“I am a Liverpool fan and I’ve been over from Ireland 11 times before,” Mulcahy said.
“This is a real kick in the teeth. Hillsborough is an important cause for me, but for a moment this made me feel like never coming back to Liverpool.
“We had been planning this trip for four months so it’s pretty devastating that this has happened.”
Mr Mulcahy travelled from Ireland by ferry with friends Gerry Finn, Richie Cleary, Barry O’Byrne, Stephen O’Meara and Pat Culligan. They were set to ride the 96km leisure cycle this morning.
Merseyside Police’s Chief Inspector Chris Hitchell confirmed the robbery was under active investigation.
“This is an absolutely terrible thing to happen to anyone visiting our city,” he said.
“But it is made worse by the fact that this group are here to raise money for charity and a cause which is dear to so many Liverpudlians’ hearts.”
Cycle 4 Sick Children July ride; click for details
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