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Big-hearted Celtic star Leigh Griffiths has chipped in £500 to help the family of a 24-year-old who died in police custody over Christmas.

Friends of Declan Gallacher launched a JustGiving page on Friday to help his grieving family pay for funeral costs.

Declan, from Clydebank, near Glasgow, tragically died after falling ill while being held at his local police station on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to Clydebank police office at around 3.30am on December 23.

(Image: UGC)

Declan was pronounced dead at the scene and his death is being treated as unexplained.

The JustGiving page set a target of £1,000 to "help get Declan the send off he deserves and to help his family at this sad time".

(Image: UGC)

The message on the page added: "Declan, 24, sadly passed away in a custody cell in a police station in the early hours of Sunday morning and his death is unexplained at the moment.

"He leaves behind a devastated family that need their community's help in this time of need.

"Declan was a huge part in anyone's life who got to meet him. Please help with any kind of donation if you possibly can."

(Image: Twitter)

And within hours the £1000 target had been reached with Hoops hero Leigh donating half the cash himself and leaving a message saying "from the boys at Celtic".

The Scotland and Celtic star is currently taking a break from football as the 28-year-old dad-of-five is given professional help for off-field problems.

(Image: PA)

Two weeks ago, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers broke the shock news when he said: “Leigh has had issues for a number of months.

“He has reached a point where it is a struggle. We are going to give him all the professional help he possibly needs to get himself to a good place again.

“He needs to find a happiness. He is a father of five children, he is a great guy, but football and life is tough for him. We want to help him so he will be out of football for a period of time.”

(Image: UGC)

Celtic fans and many within football rallied round the striker after the announcement although some Rangers fans have been accused of making insulting chants against the former Hibs' striker at recent matches.

However Griffiths returned to social media on December 21 as he posted a graphic on his Instagram story which said: “Never kick me when I’m down because when I get back up...you’re f****d.”