Northern Ireland

Partner of Co Armagh businessman tells of devastation that 'love of my life is gone' following assault

Jake Bailey-Sloan
Jake Bailey-Sloan Jake Bailey-Sloan

THE partner of a young Co Armagh businessman who died after an alleged assault has described how her heart is in "one million pieces" following his tragic death.

Gerda Visinskaite said "the love of my life is gone" as she paid moving tribute to Jake Bailey-Sloan.

"He touched so many hearts but he had mine," she wrote on social media.

"There are no words. I love you forever and ever Jake."

Police were last night still questioning a 22-year-old man on suspicion of Mr Bailey-Sloan's murder.

The 23-year-old collapsed moments after the attack in Portadown town centre in the early hours of Sunday and was taken to hospital.

Police confirmed he had died as a result of his injuries.

Tributes have been paid to the entrepreneur from Portadown, who was just 19 when he transformed a derelict textile mile in the town into a successful indoor adventure centre, 'The Mill NI', in 2017.

A death notice described him as the "loving partner of Gerda, cherished son of Leanne and Gordon Dreyer and Ross and Emma Sloan, also dearest grandson of David and Valerie Bailey and Milne and Linda Sloan".

The notice states that the house and funeral are strictly private, but a "celebration for Jake's life will follow at a later date".

Donations in lieu of flowers are for the River Bann Cleanup in Portadown, which wrote on its Facebook page that Mr Bailey-Sloan's "enthusiasm and positivity were contagious" and he was "full of ambition and ideas beyond his years".

It added that "his life and his qualities have left a lasting impact on many many people in this town and beyond".