Promising medical student dies in crash

Craig Lewsley, who was training to be a doctor at Queen’s University, Belfast, had been in a collision involving a car and a lorry on the Moneynick Road near Toome.

A former student at Friends’ School Lisburn, Mr Lewsley was a bright and popular young man.

Hundreds of mourners, many young friends, packed Moira Presbyterian Church on Monday for the funeral. The congregation was so large it overflowed into adjoining rooms where screens had been erected so they could share the service.

The Rev Jim Briggs said: “Craig loved life, he loved people. He was a people’s person.”

A former student of Moira Primary School, Craig knew from a young age what he wanted to do.

“His dream was to become a doctor, He did not need to be pushed, he drove himself achieving A grades in GCSE and A-levels,” said Rev Briggs.

“It was not all work and no play. He enjoyed sport representing Friends in rugby and enjoyed the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme, camping in the Mournes and other pursuits, achieving bronze and silver awards,” the minister told mourners.

Describing Craig as ‘an unflappable, laid back type of person’, Rev Briggs told how the young student enjoyed travelling with his friends and his brother Glenn to music festivals across Europe.

Craig was also well known in the rugby fraternity having played for Friends and following the sport also.

Indeed than 1000 people have joined a Facebook page set up in his memory.

Among those to pay tribute, Megan Victoria Kearney wrote: “Lisburn has lost a true gentleman, Rest In Peace.” And Jenna McQueen wrote: “Class of 2010...You were such a genuine guy and will never be forgotten.”

Craig is survived by his mother and father Eleanor and Paul and his brother Glenn.

Police have appealed for the drivers and passengers of two cars driving behind a lorry which collided with a car in the crash on the Moneynick Road, Toome to contact them.

The crash happened on November 21 at around 11pm.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at Antrim on 0845 600 8000.