Former Distillery player dies after assault

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Lisburn Distillery player who died following an assault in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Forty-seven year old David Mills from Dundrum, was attacked around 12.45am in the Dromore Street area of Ballynahinch.

He had been celebrating following a win on the cricket grounds in Drumaness when he was attacked.

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He was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries where he was in a critical condition until he died at 10am on Sunday.

A 30-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident which took place close to a hot food bar.

Mr Mills joined the Whites in 1994, following a successful seven seasons at Portadown, where he was part of the double winning side, before retiring from football.

Lisburn Distillery’s Academy Co-ordinator Billy Sinclair said David was a “quiet and hard working player.”

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Mr Sinclair commented: “David came to us after playing for Portadown. When he left Portadown, where he had made a name for himself, he was offered the chance to continue his career at Distillery.

“He was a quiet and unassuming guy, he wasn’t a firebrand on the pitch, he wasn’t courting controversy, if a bad tackle went in he just got on with the game. He was a hard working player, his trade was going from box to box, helping out where he was needed.

“David did wear the white shirt and all at Lisburn Distillery send our condolences to his immediate family and the wider family circle.”

Mr Mills was also a former manager of Dromara Village football team.

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A spokesperson for the Dromara club said Mr Mills had managed the side from 2001 until 2003 during which time the club experienced one of its most successful periods, reaching the semi-finals of the Border Cup and narrowly missing out on promotion to the premier section of the amateur league.

“During this time Dromara Village was considered at its best with high calibre players such as Damian McParland and Andy Kilmartin among the players,” he said. “Davy was a true gentleman and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.”

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