Heartfelt prayers for critical road victims

TWO Lurgan men are in a critical condition after being knocked down in Belfast on Friday night.

Tony McCabrey and Davie McNeill had travelled by train to Belfast to see the band The Fureys in the Waterfront Hall.

The pair were struck by a car close to Central Station shortly after 7pm. Both pedestrians sustained head injuries and their conditions are described as serious. A third man was taken to hospital but his condition was not life threatening.

Both men are passionate music fans and big followers of the Fureys.

Tony, who is in his fifties and lives in the Annesborough area, is an accomplished mandolin player while Davie, in his forties, is a familiar face in the north Lurgan area.

As the paper went to press, a hospital spokesperson said the pair remain in a critical condition in Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

While their families maintain a vigil by their bedsides, back in Lurgan friends of the two popular town men are praying for them to pull through.

The men have also been given the well wishes of the band they were due to see on Friday night.

Since learning of the accident, The Fureys posted on Facebook: “Last Friday night two gentlemen, Tony and Davie were on their way to our concert in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast when they were knocked down close to Belfast Central Station. They are seriously ill in the Royal Victoria Hospital ICU.

“They are in our thoughts and prayers and we pray they will make a full and speedy recovery. Please keep both of them in your thoughts and prayers.”

Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them in south Belfast on 0845 600 8000. They said no one had been arrested in connection with the incident.