Friends of a man who died in an attack near his home are on a huge fundraising drive to help pay for his funeral and to set up a trust fund for his baby daughter.

Michael Tierney’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief with a growing display of flowers and sentimental mementoes at the scene of his alleged murder and an emotional gathering of around 100 people at Victoria Gardens the day after his death.

The community is now rallying together to help his family and his eight month-old daughter, Joesey.

Last Friday evening hundreds of grieving friends joined his heartbroken family members near the bandstand in the park in Chatham, to let off orange, green and white balloons in his memory – the colours representing the tricolour of Ireland, where his family have strong roots.

“We can’t thank the community enough for what they’ve done so far for us as a family" - Cousin, Anna Cunningham

As the balloons rose into the sky, applause broke out among the crowds with shouts of “We love you Michael!” ringing out across the park.

The tributes spread across to the Irish Republic where the 33-year-old groundworker’s relatives remembered “Mikey”, who friends say was always happy and had a broad grin on his face.

An online memorial page, joined by nearly 2,000 members, has been flooded with tributes from friends, relatives and even strangers who had never met him.

Now many of those people who have been affected by his death are coming together to raise money for his family.

His cousin, Anna Cunningham, is helping to organise the fundraising drive.

She said: “If he was still here and one of his friends had passed away he would be doing the same.

“He was always happy and would help anyone and if we do this it is just one less thing for his family to worry about at this time.”

The fundraising has already started – a bank account has been set up for donations while others are making loom-band bracelets in Irish colours to sell.

Details of how to donate can be found on the Facebook memorial page, Gone too soon Micky Tierney #R.I.P.

Mrs Cunningham, 29, said: “We have organised a sponsored walk from Sheerness to Chatham on Saturday, July 4, and already more than 160 people have pledged to take part.”

The walk will end at the Waggon at Hale, in Capstone Road, where the next day a fun day and barbecue will be held from noon to 7pm.

Mrs Cunningham said his friends wanted to raise enough money to give him a good send-off, adding: “Anything that’s left over will be put towards Joesey’s trust fund for when she’s older.

“We are calling it Fun Day Sunday and Eric and Emma at the pub have been great and will be donating 10% of the profits to the cause. There will be a lot going on – Irish dancing, face painting and more – and local businesses have been great and have offered raffle prizes, but we are still looking for more.

“People who want to come along to the event or donate a prize or some money can just search Facebook for Fun Day Sunday Event where they can contact me.

“We can’t thank the community enough for what they’ve done so far for us as a family. All the messages we’ve been reading on the memorial page have really been nice to read.

“It seems everyone is united in the grief for Mikey and that has kept us all as a family going.”