Publican Charlie Chawke has appealed to the public to continue donating blood despite the recent controversy surrounding the Blood Transfusion Service.
Mr Chawke was in his home county of Limerick this lunchtime to perform the official opening of new premises for the Mid West Blood Transfusion Service at Raheen Business Park.
The publican was shot in the car park of his pub in Goatstown in Dublin last October and lost his right leg. He received 42 units of blood. Without blood donation, Mr Chawke said, he would not be alive today.
He appealed to people to rally behind the Blood Transfusion Service and to continue to donate much needed blood.
