Christian outreach worker among four NI weekend road fatalities

One of the four to die was a Christian outreach worker from Portadown, 66-year-old Joan McAlister.

Ms McAlister was the passenger in a car that collided with another vehicle near Ballinagh in Co Cavan on Friday evening. The male driver was also killed.

A mother and son from Bessbrook in south Armagh – and a man in his 20s from Newry – were also killed after two cars collided on the N1 Belfast to Dublin road in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Mary Faxton and her son Kevin, aged in their 60s and 40s respectively, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash just south of the border in the Ravensdale area around 2.15am.

Newry man Bryan ‘Bru’ Magill was a passenger in the other vehicle involved.

A Garda spokeswoman said Mr Magill was also pronounced dead at the scene. A man, also aged in his 20s, has been arrested in relation to the triple fatality and was last night being questioned at Dundalk Garda station.

The family of Ms McAlister – who worked with the Irish Evangelistic Band – have praised the former teacher as “a faithful friend devoted to serving God and helping others”.

In a statement to the News Letter, the family said: “Her desire was to share the Gospel with the people of Ireland. She greatly appreciated the support of many volunteers who helped in this work of visitation and outreach in Counties Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Mayo and Roscommon.

“In recent years she was pleased, with the help of other friends, to organise the distribution of the booklet ‘No Longer Hoping’ to every county in the Republic of Ireland.

“The booklet ‘Hope in a Troubled World’ was also distributed to 1.2 million homes. Both books were written by Dick Keogh. Her great desire was to complete this distribution to the remaining 600,000 homes.”

The statement added: “In her work in the Republic of Ireland Joan and other team members were warmly welcomed in residential homes and care centres where they shared the Gospel in word and song with residents.

“Everyone enjoyed these visits and they were always warmly welcomed back.”

The family went on to say: “Joan was a loving sister of Valerie and sister-in-law of Freddie. She was also a devoted aunt of Esther, Jonathan, Andrew and Steven and great aunt of Evelyn, Joanna, Timothy, Bella, Nathan, Jake, Hannah and Katie.

“Joan was a dedicated person and faithful friend devoted to serving God and helping others. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.

“Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin had known Ms McAlister for many years

He said: “I am really saddened to learn of Joan’s passing and indeed that of her colleague, it is a real tragedy that her family has been plunged into grief. Joan was a very dedicated individual who did a lot of very good work through out her life and was a valued member of the IEB organisation.”

The DUP representative added: “I sympathise sincerely with her sister Valerie and the wider family circle at this time and my thoughts and prayers are with them all as they come to terms with this tragedy. I also pass on my thoughts sympathy and prayers to the family of her colleague who was also sadly passed away in this terrible road traffic accident.”

Friends of Bryan Magill have also been expressing their sorrow at the lost of the talented footballer.

A post on the Newry Celtic Facebook page said: “Everyone at Newry Celtic are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our former player and friend Bryan ‘Bru’ Magill. The club would like to extend their deepest sympathies to his family at this devastating loss.”

Another on the page of Archview United FC said: “All at the club are heartbroken by the untimely death of one of our top men Bryan (Bru) Magill. Bru will always be remembered by all of us as a gentleman.”

A notice on the Funeral Times website described Mr Magill as the “devoted son of Joey and Yvonne, treasured brother of Donna, Elizabeth, Joe and Caolin and loving grandson of Belle.”

On the Rip.ie website, the death notice for Mary and Kevin Faxton said: “Beloved wife and son of Joseph and much loved mother and brother of Malcolm, Carole (Small), Yvonne (Campbell) and David.

“Deeply regretted by Joseph husband of Mary and father of Kevin, her sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchild, Kevin’s brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, nephews, nieces and entire family circle.”