Farm accident victim is named

UUP man Tom Elliott was among a number of figures voicing shock and sorrow at the death of the man on Sunday, in a rural area south of Dungannon.

In a public statement on Monday, Mr Elliott yesterday named the dead man as James Irwin, and said he had been planning to get married “in the near future”.

It emerged yesterday the Ambulance Service had been summoned to the scene off Rhone Road at 1.47pm on Sunday – however, the man died at the scene.

Mr Elliott, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, said the incident “illustrates that the agricultural industry carries a more significant risk than any other industry and behind these statistics is a story of a grieving family, a community in shock and the need to make farms safer places”.

Condolences were voiced on the floor of the Assembly on Monday over the incident, with DUP MLA Lord Morrow (also representing Fermanagh and South Tyrone) voicing his “sincere and deep sympathy” to the victim’s family.

It is believed the incident involved some kind of machinery, but there was no confirmation of this from the authorities.

The tragedy came just ahead of the fourth anniversary this Thursday of a slurry tank accident on a Hillsborough farm, which claimed the life of rugby player Nevin Spence, his brother Graham, and father Noel.

Mr Irwin’s funeral will be held at 2pm on Wednesday in St James’ Parish Church, Moy, followed by interment in the adjoining churchyard.

He was the fiancée of Susan, son of Robert and Gretta, and had two brothers – Henry and Mark.