Touching tribute by Man United striker Rooney

Following a touching online campaign asking Wayne Rooney and Justin Bieber to tweet about the three children who died in Sunday night’s Buncrana pier tragedy, the striker responded on twitter saying: “Devastating news about young Mark, Evan & family from Derry. Your support hasn’t gone unnoticed. Prayers with family #rooneyformarkandevan”

The message has been retweeted thousands of times.

Friends of Jodie-lee Daniels (14), her nephew Mark McGrotty (12) and his brother Evan (8), began the online campaign on Tuesday morning.

It began with #jbforjodie asking Justin Bieber to tweet about Jodie-Lee and was later extended out to #‎rooneyformarkandevan asking Wayne Rooney to say a few words about his young fans.

Mark and Evan were huge Manchester United fans, and Wayne Rooney was their idol.

Local people have commended the footballer for taking the time to remember the family. Fair play to Rooney, one wrote on the Journal’s facebook.

Friends who contacted the Journal said that it was Jodie-Lee’s dream to one day meet Justin Bieber and they wanted him to see the message they were posting about her.

Jode-Lee was a huge Justin Bieber fan and wanted him to attend her wedding. She was also known for her Justin Bieber pencilcase.

During the week every single pupil at St Mary’s College, where she was a Year Ten pupil, were given a special white ribbon to remember her.

Her principal Marie Lindsay said they would remember Jodie-lee as a “hardworking and beautiful” girl.