Northern Ireland

Co Antrim man Conor McKeown 'killed by what he saw' at fatal accident scene

Primrose Campbell (58) was killed in a road accident near Rasharkin on Friday morning
Primrose Campbell (58) was killed in a road accident near Rasharkin on Friday morning Primrose Campbell (58) was killed in a road accident near Rasharkin on Friday morning

A MAN who died of a heart attack at the site of a road accident which claimed the life of his employee "was killed by the sight he came across", his parish priest has said.

The two co-workers were laid to rest following separate funeral services on Monday morning.

Conor McKeown, a father-of-three in his mid-forties, was buried following funeral Mass at St Mary's Chapel in Rasharkin.

Mr McKeown ran McKeown Fine Foods on Townhill Road, between Rasharkin and Portglenone, along with his brother.

He died on Friday morning, shortly after suffering a heart attack at the scene of a traffic collision which claimed the life of employee Primrose Campbell.

Ms Campbell died after a two vehicle collision on Townhill Road at around 6.30am.

It is believed that she was travelling to work when the accident happened.

Mr McKeown is understood to have taken ill as he attempted to assist Ms Campbell.

Fr John Murray, parish priest of St Mary's Chapel in Rasharkin, told The Irish News: "I knew Conor well. He was a kind person and a very fit fella. The sadness was terrible here today."

"What he saw on Friday killed him. Coming across the scene that he saw would have hit him very hard."

Ms Campbell, a mother-of-three who had grown up in Rasharkin before moving to Ballymoney in recent years, was also buried yesterday.

A funeral service was held in her home in Ballymoney before interment in Kilraughts Presbyterian Church graveyard.

Following the news of the deaths, political representatives in Rasharkin spoke of a "deep sense of sadness and shock" which had descended on the small rural village.

A 21-year-old man arrested at the scene of the crash on Friday on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was later released on bail pending further enquiries.