ANGUS PROVOST Ruth Leslie Melville and Angus Council leader Councillor Bob Myles yesterday urged local people to turn their shock and sympathy at the death of Lithuanian migrant worker Jolanta Bledaite into cash to support her family and fund the repatriation of her remains.

Mr Myles said, “I have been to the Bank of Scotland in Brechin to sign the necessary documentation required to set up what will be called The Jolanta Fund.

“Anyone wishing to donate money can do so at the Bank of Scotland in Clerk Street, Brechin, and—by quoting Roll No. 2/96784889-4—at any Halifax/Bank of Scotland branch in the country.”

He added, “It has been brought to my attention that Sue Smith in Arbroath has set up an independent fund and, having spoken to her, I have asked that if there is any money left over from her collection that she would consider donating it to the council’s Jolanta fund.”

Mrs Leslie Melville said, “We would like to raise as much as we can to help Jolanta’s family with any expenses they have and to show them that the thoughts of the people of Angus are with them at this sad time.”

Sue Smith herself said yesterday, “I have been in touch with the Lithuanian government’s representatives in London.

“They have given me the go-ahead to make the necessary arrangements at this end so that Jolanta’s body can be flown back home. At the moment that all depends on when the police are in a position to release her remains.

“As soon as that happens, her coffin will be accompanied back to Lithuania by me and my 15-year-old son Aaron.

“The Lithuanian Embassy is sending me all the paperwork necessary for undertaking the repatriation of Jolanta’s remains so that everything is in place for me to book flights once the police have completed their work.”

Ms Smith also spoke yesterday of her shock at news of Jolanta’s death coming amid a family holiday to Disneyland Paris.

She said, “Although I was involved in fund-raising and helping the families of Marek Smrz and Petr Adamik after their tragic death, it came completely out of the blue when people asked me to do something for Jolanta’s family.

“In the space of an hour when we were on holiday I received over a dozen calls from migrant workers asking for my help and, as I came home the next day, I decided I would once again do anything I could.

“A young Lithuanian lad who knew the family came to see me and told me about how poor and ill Jolanta’s father was and I just couldn’t sit and do nothing.

“Her father somehow got my mobile number and called me personally to discuss what I could do and told me he was honoured by the interest.

“I have to say that it is me who feels honoured that so many members of the migrant worker community living in Angus feel they can trust me to do these things for them.

“There has been a lot of talk about wild parties in the flats where some of these workers live and terrible things said about their behaviour.

“It is, however, only a tiny minority of them who ever get into any serious trouble.

“It has to be remembered, I think, that these are young people who are working away from home and, perhaps for the first time in their hard lives, have a bit of money to spend on themselves.

“Maybe the Scottish people who criticise them for that should take a look at the conduct of some young holidaymakers or football fans who go abroad and get into all sorts of alcohol-fuelled bother before being too hard on the migrant workers.

“There are tens of thousands of young people from Eastern Europe who have come here looking for work and, with that sort of number, it is almost inevitable that they won’t all be angels.”

Mrs Leslie Melville said last night the council fund for Jolanta already stood at £1000, writes Chris Hardy.

“The people of Angus have been moved by this tragedy and the sum raised is a reflection of their generosity,” she said.

“Having received so much so quickly I anticipate the fund will be open for no more than a fortnight.”

Irene and Stanley Callaghan are among the Brechin people who were shocked by the tragic brutality of Jolanta’s death.

The couple will be encouraging local groups, organisations and individuals to contribute to the fund.