FRIENDS and colleagues of a Co Down chef whose pop-up Mexican eatery was named best restaurant in Ireland have donated funds to the hospital ward where he was treated before his death.
More than £3,000 was raised in memory of Adam Lynas (39), who died in November following a battle with cancer.
The South Eastern Trust has thanked the staff and owners of La Taqueria Restaurant who donated £3,362 in "memory and honour of their dear friend and colleague".
Mr Lynas opened the award-winning restaurant alongside Andy Rea and Stevie Haller in 2016.
In what was originally a pop-up eatery, La Taqueria was named best restaurant in Ireland by the prestigious McKenna’s Restaurant Guide.
After opening their first restaurant on Castle Street in 2016, the three men joined forces with Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody and Nathan Connolly to open another La Taqueria on the Ormeau Road in Belfast.
Heartfelt tributes were paid to the head chef following his death last year, with many describing him as an "absolute gentleman", who was "warm, kind, generous and funny".
Following his passing, the restaurant said it was donating some proceeds from their takeaway menu to a cancer charity in memory of Mr Lynas.
It has also now donated to the ward where he was treated during his illness.
In a post on Twitter, the South Eastern Trust wrote of its gratitude for a donation from the restaurant.
"Thank you to the staff and owners of La Taqueria Restaurant for their generous donation of £3,362 to Ward 3A in memory and honour of their dear friend and colleague Adam Lynas who sadly passed away in November," it said,
