Northern Ireland

Mum's tribute to 'amazing' son (4) killed in Maguiresbridge farm tragedy

Thomas Magee died tragically on his family's farm near Maguiresbridge
Thomas Magee died tragically on his family's farm near Maguiresbridge Thomas Magee died tragically on his family's farm near Maguiresbridge

THE mother of a four-year-old who died in a farm accident in Co Fermanagh has paid tribute to her "beautiful baby boy".

Thomas Magee died on Thursday evening at his family's farm near Maguiresbridge.

It is understood he died in an incident involving a digger. The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.

Mourners gathered at Maguiresbridge Methodist Church on Sunday for his funeral service.

Thomas, the second born in a family of three children, is survived by his two young sisters and parents David and Jackie Magee.

Mr Magee is a farmer while Mrs Magee works as a teacher at Ballinamallard Primary School.

In a short message on Facebook beside a picture of Thomas, Mrs Magee paid tribute to her son.

She wrote: "My beautiful baby boy. He was so amazing inside and outside."

Thomas was a P1 pupil at Maguiresbridge Primary School.

The school's principal Honor Irvine described him as a "special little boy" who "loved life and lit up the classroom with his beautiful smile".

His scout group said he had a "smile to melt a heart and the glint in the eye to add the spark".

The tragedy is the first death of a child on a farm in the north for almost three years.

The last fatality was in June 2014 when an eight-year-old boy died in a slurry tank accident near Dunloy, Co Antrim.

The Health and Safety Executive said there were seven deaths on farms in the north last year and six in 2015.