Northern Ireland

Dublin GAA legend and former Derry boss Brian Mullins dies following short illness

Brian Mullins managed Derry between 1996 and 1998, winning a national league and an Ulster title
Brian Mullins managed Derry between 1996 and 1998, winning a national league and an Ulster title Brian Mullins managed Derry between 1996 and 1998, winning a national league and an Ulster title

REVERED Dublin GAA star and former Derry boss Brian Mullins has died after a short illness.

Mullins (68) was considered one of the foremost midfielders the game has ever known, winning four All-Ireland medals.

In 1980, he survived a serious car crash that left him with a badly broken leg and out of the game for almost two years.

He managed Derry between 1996 and 1998, winning a national league and an Ulster title, the county's last before this summer.

Derry GAA last night paid tribute to "an icon of Gaelic football with his native Dublin" and "a great friend to Derry GAA".

"He will be sadly missed," a statement said.

His club St Vincent's said he was "an absolute colossus".

"There’s so much to say about the man, and we’re all still processing this. We’ll honour him in the coming days," the club said.

TD Jack Chambers said he was a football legend and an Irish sporting icon.

"Above all he was a sportsman to his core and had Dublin in his DNA," he added.