A CO Tyrone man who died in England while training for the Dublin Marathon is to be honoured by his clubmates who will now run the race in his memory.
Eskra athlete Paul Murray (40) was struck by a car while running on a rural lane in north Yorkshire last Wednesday.
His family, who travelled to England to maintain a vigil at his bedside in Middlesbrough, are now waiting to have his remains flown home for burial.
The father-of-two had been running in the picturesque Howardian Hills area when the accident happened after dusk.
A former player with Eskra Emmetts GAA club and member of Knockmany Runners, he had been working in the area erecting power lines for a construction firm, returning home at weekends.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday, friend and coach Conor McCarroll said Mr Murray had been an active and prominent member of the running club along with his wife Tracy, and people in the area are "absolutely devastated" at his death.
"We just can't take it in," he said.
"Paul had been a member of Knockmany Runners since we formed around five to six years ago. He was a very experienced athlete who had taken part in numerous marathons, half-marathons and 10K runs. He was always very positive and made a point of encouraging everyone else around him.
"About 20 of us were planning to take part in the Dublin Marathon and we were all following a schedule of training. We were training here and Paul was training in England last Wednesday when the accident happened.
"He was always more interested in the health benefits and friendship from running with the club than bettering his times and more than anything he would want us to keep running. We will be completing the Dublin Marathon as a tribute to his memory."
Eskra Emmetts chairman Cathal McCaffrey also paid tribute to Mr Murray, saying he had been a talented player with the club where his son Conal now plays.
"As a club and community we are in deep shock, particularly at the sudden nature of Paul's death," he said.
"Many people knew Paul, both from the GAA and also from the running club which are closely connected, having many joint members."
A native of Tattyreagh, Mr Murray is survived by his wife Tracy, children, Gemma and Conal, father Colm, sister Sabrina and brother, Dean. He was predeceased by his mother Margaret and sister Donna.
