A YOUNG Co Down barrister who died suddenly while on holiday in Spain has been described by her devastated family as their "shining light".
Shona Killen (27), from the village of Cloughey on the Ards Peninsula, took ill on Sunday evening at a hotel in the Costa Del Sol.
She was holidaying with her partner in the resort town of Benalmádena, south of Malaga.
He alerted emergency services during the night but it is understood Shona passed away in hospital the following morning.
A post mortem was due to take place on Tuesday to find out how she died.
A brother has travelled to Spain to assist with the process of bringing Shona's body back to her home town, where there was a sense of “numbness” following the tragedy.
Another brother, Eamon Killen, told the Irish News that Shona’s close family and circle of friends were “utterly devastated” by the sudden loss.
He said she was "one of the most likeable people you would ever meet”.
“You won’t find someone with a bad word to say about my sister, and this is evident in the amount of people around us who have offered their support at this incredibly difficult time.
“We are utterly devastated by this loss. She was the only daughter of our parents, and an amazing and loving sister to myself and my brother. She was a shining light in our family, and we will always miss her.”
SDLP councillor Joe Boyle said the tragedy has hit the entire community in Ards.
“I knew Shona well, and her death has left a degree of numbness not just in Cloughey, but all over the peninsula, where there is a tight community network. When something like this hits one door here, it hits all our doors,” he said.
“I own a business in Portaferry, and would have met Shona many times over the years as a customer. She was a great ambassador for the area, and a role model, having gone off to successfully pursue a legal career.
“She was a lovely, lovely girl, and our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and her boyfriend too, at this horrendous time. To see such a promising young life cut short like this is a tragedy beyond words.”
A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Law, where she studied after A-levels at Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock, Shona was called to the Bar in 2011 and worked in criminal, civil, family and mental health law.
Away from court she was known for her charitable fundraising, supporting causes such as Alzheimer's research. She also described herself as "an aspiring actress and singer".
The chairman of the Bar of Northern Ireland, Liam McCollum QC, expressed the "shock and great sadness" of the profession.
"Shona was a well-known and highly respected young barrister, endeared to all who knew her and renowned for her fundraising efforts.
"On behalf of the Bar, I would like to express our deepest condolences to her friends and family, assuring them of our thoughts and prayers and the provision of any and all support we can offer during this most difficult time."
