NI road deaths: Funeral hears how elderly man’s ‘deepest love was for his family’
It comes as the families of six people who died on our roads over the last week prepare to bury their loved ones.
Edmund Hughes - known as Ned - was struck by a vehicle on December 20 as he walked along John Street in Dungannon. He was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries.
On Friday morning, Fr Eamonn McCamley told mourners at his funeral Mass that Mr Hughes' deepest love was for his family.
"Ned's deepest love was his son Brian, his daughter-in-law Gemma and the grandchildren. Life revolved around them," he said.
"He had many interests; in particular he loved his Formula One Grand Prix.
He was an avid Chelsea supporter.
"He also had a great pride in his motorbikes and many friends associated with these pastimes. He enjoyed the company of others and was good company himself. He was widely known, loved and respected locally.
"To think this day last week we were all in our preparations for Christmas.
Little did we know a tragic accident was going to take place. Yet Christmas has come and I know that you celebrated as best you could.
"Tragic death, always sudden, is like a power cut. One minute the light is shining, the next the world is turned upside down.
We are plunged into darkness."
Meanwhile, the family of Amy Stokes prepares for her funeral on Saturday. The 20-year-old newlywed died following a single-vehicle crash on the Ballyconnell Road close to Derrylin on Monday night.
Amy Stokes (20) died in a crash on Monday night close to Derrylin, Co Fermanagh
A death notice for Mrs Stokes, who was from the Ballyconnell area of Co Cavan, said life would "never be the same without her".
"She was such an amazing person with a heart of gold. A loving wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law and friend, and thought the world of her husband Damien, her parents, brothers and sisters and her in-laws," it said.
"Amy was a very kind-hearted, welcoming person to everyone she met and was always so friendly.
She had an amazing voice and everyone loved to hear her sing.
"Everyone loved her so much, she was such a big personality and was "always the life of the party" as she would say herself.
"Dancing and listening to music were her favourite things to do, with a great love of getting out and socialising with her friends who always knew she would lighten up the room, never failing to make her friends laugh.
"Life will never be the same without her; she is a massive loss to her family and friends."
A man in his 70s also died on December 20 when a Porsche Cayenne collided with a lorry in Ballynure, Co Antrim, while the previous day, Garrick Wood died following a collision near Victoria Bridge, Co Tyrone.
Mr Wood was buried on Christmas Eve.
A lorry driver in his 40s also died in a crash in the Moylagh Road area of Beragh on Monday morning.
On Christmas Eve, a man in his 30s died after a single-vehicle crash on the Downpatrick Road in Ballynahinch.
Edmund Hughes - known as Ned - was struck by a vehicle on December 20 as he walked along John Street in Dungannon
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