St. Mary’s College received approximately 1,000 bottles of hand sanitiser earlier this week.St. Mary’s College received approximately 1,000 bottles of hand sanitiser earlier this week.
St. Mary’s College received approximately 1,000 bottles of hand sanitiser earlier this week.

11,000 bottles of hand sanitiser donated to local secondary schools

A local businessman has donated almost 11,000 bottles of hand sanitiser for local second level students.

Steven O’Carroll, owner of Bit’s N Pieces/Poundsworth in Northside Shopping Centre, Quayside Shopping Centre and Eglinton came up the initiative following a conversation with his son, ahead of schools returning last week.

Speaking to the ‘Journal’, Mr O’Carroll said: “The idea came about because my son attends St. Columb’s College, he’s a fifth year. He was just worried about everyone going back at the one time.

“He asked me if I could get him hand sanitiser, because the whole school was going back after the Easter break. 

“I got talking to George from the Old Library Trust, as I would do a lot with the youth services, and came with the idea that wouldn’t it be great if every child had it.

“We couldn’t do primary schools as they are still a bit young, but it would be great if every secondary school child had some hand sanitiser, to give the parents a bit of piece of mind for the children going back. 

“I would sell it anyway, so I got in contact with my suppliers, and ask if they could get me 12,000 of them which would cover the schools. I paid for it myself and distributed it myself. 

“I wish I could do the whole of Northern Ireland, but I can’t, so I will cover Derry and Strabane council area.

“So far we have all of the schools in Derry covered, and we still are waiting on confirmation from Strabane schools.”