PROMINENT Northern Ireland businessman Paul Hunt has died in tragic circumstances while holidaying in Portugal.
Mr Hunt (75) had been executive chairman of Belfast-based drinks company Golf Holdings, which owns Winemark and a number of other hospitality subsidiaries.
It is understood he died last Friday at the Quinta do Lago golf resort in the Algarve, which is owned by billionaire Irish businessman Denis O'Brien.
Mr Hunt had been staying at the resort with his wife Patricia.
A spokesperson for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the case and were providing consular assistance.
They added: "As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”
Really sorry to hear Paul Hunt has died in tragic circumstances. I loved my first job working in Winemark and Paul was always very highly regarded. Thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time. https://t.co/T0YBWNoqXT
— Connie Egan MLA (@connieegan94) June 29, 2023
As well as his wife, Mr Hunt leaves two sons and two daughters.
He entered the drinks industry after graduating from Queen's University, where he read economics.
In 1983 he took over James E McCabe, a long-established Co Armagh beer, wine and spirits business.
It remained in McCabe family ownership until shortly after the death of the founder Jack McCabe in 1983, when control passed to Hunt and his partner.
In 2021 its Belfast-based parent Golf Holdings showed a £7.4m profit on an operating income of just over £13m.
Jim O'Neill, a former managing director of United Wine Merchants and a friend of Mr Hunt, said: "Paul was well respected within the industry and ran a hugely successful operation for many years. This is devastating news."
The Alliance MLA Connie Egan commented: "Really sorry to hear Paul Hunt has died in tragic circumstances.
"I loved my first job working in Winemark and Paul was always very highly regarded. Thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time."
