The funeral of a man who died following a crash in Derry has heard how he has given the “gift of life” to others through organ donation.
James Gallagher, who was 42 and known to family and friends as Jamesie, died last Thursday following the collision in the Strand Road area of the city in the early hours of Sunday.
Mr Gallagher was a pedestrian and was taken to hospital with critical injuries after the collision happened at around 1.40am.
A death notice described him as the “loving father of Darragh, beloved son of Mary and James, dear brother of Marty, brother-in-law of Lorraine and much loved uncle of Eabha Lily and Caoimhe”.
At his funeral on Monday at St Patrick’s Church in Derry’s Pennyburn area, Fr Seán O’Donnell spoke of Mr Gallagher’s love of hurling, and his close relationship with his daughter Darragh, who was described as “his princess”.
Fr O’Donnell said of his family: “They have also taken great comfort that, even in his sudden departing from us, he has been able to give the gift of life to so many others through the donation of his organs. That would be so Jamsie.”
The funeral mass was concelebrated by All-Ireland Primate Eamon Martin, who is a relative of the Gallagher family.
Following the mass, a burial service was held at Derry City Cemetery.
