Tributes paid to young Tyrone crash victim

A 21 year-old student who died from injuries sustained in a road traffic collision near Donaghmore at the weekend has been described as a popular young man who was always a ‘pleasure to meet.’

Tributes have been paid to Patrick McGinn from Killeeshil, a student of Maths at Queen’s Unversity in Belfast. He passed away in hospital following the collision on the Parkanur Road on Friday.

Mr McGinn, who was a former pupil of St Mary’s Primary School in Cabragh and St Ciaran’s Ballygawley, was widely known in the south Tyrone area and comes from a wider family circle highly respected in their local communities.

The devastating tragedy has caused widespread shock as Mr McGinn was also widely known for his part-time work in a local restaurant and shop.

Killeeshil St Mary’s GAA club called off their Tyrone All-County League match against Kildress yesterday (Sunday) as a mark of respect for Mr McGinn.

Club chairman, Martin Russell, told the TyroneHerald that Mr McGinn had played for the club at youth level and would be sadly missed by the whole community.

“This is a terrible tragedy for the Killeeshil area and for everyone who knew Patrick not only here but also in neighbouring parishes,” Mr Russell said.

“It really is very sad and a devastating blow for Patrick’s family and friends. He represented the club at youth level and always kept a keen interest in how we were doing.

“Patrick was an absolutely lovely man with a good personality, level-headed and someone wh always took time to speak to people he met.

“Anytime you’d see Patrick he always had a smile on his face and speaking with him was a pleasure. He was a very smart young man who had his whole life in front of him and this tragedy is a real shock to everyone because he had everything to live for.”

The PSNI have appealed for information about the collision.