MOURNERS at the funeral of a popular Co Down driving instructor killed in a traffic collision heard how he had "helped countless people achieve their goal of getting onto the road".
Father-of-three Jim Smyth from Ballynahinch was also remembered as a devoted family man, who lived for his wife Doreen and "his girls", Abbie, Rachel and Grace.
The 49-year-old died in a three-car collision in Dundrum last Thursday while driving his daughter and her friends home at around 12.20am from a school pre-formal in Newcastle.
One his daughters is understood to be among four people who were taken to hospital with serious injuries while a fifth person suffered minor injuries.
Family and friends gathered at St Patrick's Church in Ballynahinch for Requiem Mass yesterday where a guard of honour of driving instructor vehicles accompanied his funeral cortege.
Fr Brian Brown told mourners it was a "line of honour and glory for him as he travelled here to the church".
The priest spoke about Mr Smyth's love of his teaching people to drive and golf, but said that above all "he loved his family".
He said Mr Smyth was "passionate" about golf and joked "he let everybody know it".
"As a driving instructor he was careful with those he instructed, although some often told me that he talked more about the golf club than he did about their lesson and their work," he said.
Mr Smyth's brother Simon also spoke at the service, recalling how he had the "happiest of childhoods" and that "his love for Man Utd and music grew" when he attended St Colman's High School.
He said his brother trained to be an electrician, but it was "at this point that Jim's driving ability was beginning to develop".
"Jim then kicked the sparking game into touch and started his new profession as a driving instructor where he met many new friends along the way and helped countless people achieve their goal of getting onto the road," he said.
"To be honest, I never thought it would be for him, but he loved it and he had many a giggle with his students along the way."
Mr Smyth also spoke of his brother's love of golf.
He said he was a "dedicated member" of Spa Gold Club where he enjoyed "meeting new friends and having many a nights craic".
But it was his love for wife Doreen, whom he called "his D" and "his girls" that were most important, said Mr Smyth.
