Delight for John after stranger’s act of kindness

John Lynch (33) from Faughanvale is a frequent visitor Inishowen, and would routinely stop off at Bridgend and Muff to collect his Irish Lotto ticket every weekend.

However with tightening of travel restrictions and the closures of businesses as a precaution against COVID19 Mr Lynch’s weekly routine - which included visiting Doherty’s cafe in Bridgend and O’Flaherty’s pub in Buncrana - was disrupted last week.

John, who expressed his concern he would now be unable to do the Lotto in the comments section under a Derry Journal Facebook post last week about gardai stopping people at the border, said he was very thankful for the kindness shown him by a cross-border key worker who saw the post and took it upon himself to get John a ticket. And the big-hearted Burnfoot-based E&I employee also had the ticket sealed the inside a plastic bag and delivered it to his doorstep.

John said he was “surprised” when he found out what the man, who didn’t know him, had been willing to do for him. “I replied, ‘thank you very much for this’.”

John’s sister Gemma said the man himself has a close relative with autism and understood how difficult it was when someone with autism had their routine disrupted.

John said he was delighted by the man’s kindness at a time when his normal routines have had to change.

“I have been isolating and just go out to go to the shops to get newspapers and stuff for the house. I do follow the different laws and the British government and Irish government and the messages to keep safe.”

An avid Derry City fan, John said he loves going to the cafe at Bridgend and to visit the pub in Buncrana, and he also loves to take in the scenery when visiting Buncrana and Inishowen. He said Doherty’s cafe in Bridgend make lovely chips and he also enjoys the clothes, merchandise and souvenirs in John’s bar.

John also likes to make regular trips into Derry city centre too to visit his favourite shops, Cool Discs and Foyleside Shopping Centre, and of course, the Brandywell. “I have always loved Derry City,” he said, adding that he is keeping updated with the League of Ireland website to see when the matches will resume.

Like many people with autism, disruption to routine activities is particularly hard for John. Even filming on his favourite programmes such as Ant & Dec’s Takeaway and Fair City on RTE have been affected by the current restrictions.

But he said he still manages to get outside and enjoy the fresh air close to the family home, where he lives with parents Joe and Mary.

John is the only boy in a family of six children, and his sister Gemma said John was an amazing brother who volunteers at Ballykelly Men’s Shed and is involved with Something Special in Eglinton and also, having overcome many challenges himself, helps his peers overcome their challenges.

She said that going across the border with his mum was part of John’s routine and going to do the Irish Lottery was linked to one of his favourite childhood programmes, Winning Streak on RTE.

Gemma said the wider family were so thankful for the kindness shown by the local man. “This guy was a complete stranger to us,” she said. “He got in touch after reading the thread on Facebook to say he works in E&I Engineering and lives here in the north. I was overwhelmed, it was such a kind thing to do. He said there was no contact needed and he had the ticket in a bag and just waved into the window. He wouldn’t take a penny for it.

“That man out of the kindness of his heart went out of his way to go and do that for John. What he did was amazing and John was absolutely delighted.”