A GROUP of cyclists from Limerick and Tipperary travelled to Liverpool last week for what should have been a memorable charity cycle.
Instead it turned into a nightmare trip after the six men had cycling equipment and personal belongings stolen from them while they visited Anfield, the home ground of Liverpool FC.
The van in which the group was travelling was raided while they were enjoying a tour of the football stadium, with five expensive bicycles, passports, iPads, sat navs and money ransacked from the vehicle.
One of the cyclists, Liam Mulcahy from Rhebogue said the trip turned into a “disaster” after they returned from Anfield to find that their belongings had been callously robbed.
“We went over with the best of intentions but we returned to the van to find that our belongings had been stolen. There’s no malice in the lads and we’re all gutted. It’s depressing.”
It was particularly difficult to take for Liam, who frequently partakes in charity events in aid of his daughter Sophie, who suffers from a life-threatening heart condition and has undergone a number of serious operations. He had invested heavily in his bicycle which was highly customised and featured his name, Sophie’s name and her date of birth.
Liam and his friends were in England to take part in the Ride for the 96, a charity cycle to benefit families of 96 Liverpool FC supporters who were crushed to death at a football match at Hillsborough in Sheffield in 1989.
Merseyside Police have launched an investigation into the robbery, which has caused public outrage in the city as the cause which the cyclists were helping is very close to people’s hearts.
Liam said: “We didn’t expect the public reaction that we got. It’s a raw, touchy subject with people in Liverpool and for it to happen on the doorstep of Anfield is a tragedy.
“It has angered a lot of people and it didn’t take long for support to kick in. One lad put us up for a night and a man from Cork who is over there allowed us to park the van at his place.
“We could have been just told ‘off you go, good luck’ but the support we’ve received has been very positive. People took us in and they didn’t know us from Adam. We’ve really been taken aback by the support.
“It wouldn’t sour my impression of Liverpool. I’ve been a Liverpool FC fan all my life and, in all the times that I’ve been over before, this has never happened. I’ve been over for matches with my wife and children and nothing like this has happened. It wouldn’t stop me from going over again.”
