Tragic death in farm accident

AN investigation has been launched after an Augher man died as a result of a farming accident.

Peter McCaughey, aged 65, from Altnaveigh was working on his farm on Tuesday evening when he became trapped in a loading machine.

A dairy farmer, Mr McCaughey (pictured) was married with four children and had been due to celebrate his birthday this Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive NI said, “HSENI are making enquiries into an incident which took place in the Augher area on Tuesday evening, to establish the facts.”

Mr McCaughey is a former pupil of St Ciaran’s High School in Ballygawley, and had worked for many years in the Department for Agriculture.

His brother, Brian, described Mr McCaughey’s death as ‘a terrible tragedy’ for the family.

“Peter had taken early retirement to work on the family farm,” he said.

“He was out on the farm on a daily basis; this was something that he loved immensely.”

“This is a terrible tragedy, and comes at a time when time when Peter had started to wind down his farming work a little,.”

Mr McCaughey was a talented footballer during his teenage years and featured in the Augher team which won the 1974 Tyrone Minor Championship.

He later became a well-known greyhound trainer, alongside the late Ben Sherry from Aughnacloy. The two of them were based at the McCaughey family farm and enjoyed some notable success at prominent dog racing tracks.

“Peter and Ben trained quite a number of greyhounds on the farm,” his brother, Brian continued.

“They won races at Lifford and were very much involved in the sport. That was Peter’s hobby during those days, and he also enjoyed the horse racing.”

Mr McCaughey is survived by his wife, Jayne, and children Ronan, Sean, Brian and Sinead.