Northern Ireland

Tyrone man Barry McQuaid killed in work accident

FAMILY MAN: Barry McQuaid
FAMILY MAN: Barry McQuaid FAMILY MAN: Barry McQuaid

Tributes have been paid to a father-of-three killed in a work accident in Co Fermanagh yesterday.

It is understood the man, named locally as Barry McQuaid, died after an accident involving a digger on a site in the Ederney area.

The 34-year-old was from near Dromore in Co Tyrone where he lived with his young family.

The dead man is well-known in the area and he worked alongside his father Noel in the family construction firm.

He is also survived by his wife Edel, mother Patricia and his three children.

The dead man was a strong supporter of Dromore St. Dympna's GFC and the family firm built a new stand at the club in 2016.

Mr McQuaid played with his club up to under-16 level.

He and his father were also supporters of the Tyrone senior team and regularly attended county games.

Active in the community, Mr McQuaid provided a grave digging service to the local parish.

Fr Patrick MacEntee last night spoke of the shock felt around the area.

“We are all rather stunned,” he said.

“He was a very fine young man, very well got here and very well liked.

“His wife Edel is from Trillick.

“They are a very fine couple and very devoted to each other.

“He was a great family man.”

Fr MacEntee described Mr McQuaid as a “very hard worker”.

“It’s just a very tragic accident and the whole community here is very upset and feels terribly for the family circle.

“People say these things but there really is a very palpable shock around here.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said it received a call shortly after 10.30am to following reports of a man "with traumatic injuries near Market Street, Ederney".

The air ambulance and two accident and emergency crews were sent to the scene.

The spokesman said: “No one was taken from the scene.”

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: “The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland is aware of an incident in the Fermanagh area and are investigating”.

A spokesman for the PSNI said: “Police attended the scene of a sudden death of a man in his 30s at a building site in the Ederney area earlier today.”