Northern Ireland

Co Down man dies in Canada just hours after arriving in country to visit grandchildren

Newcastle man Kieran Beattie was found dead in Canada on Tuesday morning just hours after arriving in the country to visit his grandchildren
Newcastle man Kieran Beattie was found dead in Canada on Tuesday morning just hours after arriving in the country to visit his grandchildren Newcastle man Kieran Beattie was found dead in Canada on Tuesday morning just hours after arriving in the country to visit his grandchildren

A CO Down man who flew to Canada to visit his grandchildren died just hours after arriving in the country.

Kieran Beattie, from Newcastle, arrived in London, in south western Ontario, on Monday for a three-week trip to see his son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren, aged between five and nine.

However, after spending a few hours with the children on Monday night, the 59-year-old was found dead beside his bed on Tuesday morning.

It is believed the grandfather passed away peacefully in his sleep having suffered heart failure.

Arrangements were last night under way to bring the much-loved father-of-six home to Ireland.

His family, who last night remembered their dad as someone who "would do anything for us", must now wait for their loved one to come home before they can say their final goodbyes.

Speaking to The Irish News, Mary-Louise Beattie said the sudden death of her father had been shocking for the family.

She said her dad had been "adamant" he wanted to take the trip, which had been planned previously but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said when her brother James picked her dad up from the airport in Canada he was in "good spirits" and in "good form".

"Dad was so adamant to get over over to James," she said.

"He wanted to see them. He wasn’t leaving it until after Christmas."

Mary-Louise said on going to James's house, her dad "got to see the kids for a couple of hours".

"He gave them a kiss on the head and told them that he loved them and went to bed."

She said James found their father the next morning.

Kieran Beattie (59) was a father-of-six from Newcastle, Co Down
Kieran Beattie (59) was a father-of-six from Newcastle, Co Down Kieran Beattie (59) was a father-of-six from Newcastle, Co Down

Receiving the news that her father had died was "heart-breaking" for the family, she said, adding the family must now wait for him to be brought home.

She added the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust were helping and had been "very, very good".

"It can take a couple of weeks but we are hoping, it will be within seven to 10 days. We need to see him.

"We can’t not sleep. We can’t think. It is just so hard and we are just heartbroken."

Mary-Louise said her dad would be remembered as someone who was "always joking and happy".

"Anywhere dad went he was just a lovable, lovable person.

"Dad was loving and caring for all of us. We are very, very close. He would do anything for us. Everything was about us. He loved his kids."

Mary-Louise said the family are also "so thankful" to everyone who had donated to a GoFundMe page set up to raise money to help the family at this time. So far last night, more than £3,400 had been raised.

"It shows you how well dad was liked and for everybody to do that, we are so thankful," she said.