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Former mayor dies refereeing game | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A referee has collapsed and died at a GAA match in County Down. | A referee has collapsed and died at a GAA match in County Down. |
Michael Cole, who was in his 50s and from Kilkeel, was also a councillor on Newry and Mourne District Council and had just completed a term as mayor. | Michael Cole, who was in his 50s and from Kilkeel, was also a councillor on Newry and Mourne District Council and had just completed a term as mayor. |
The SDLP man was refereeing a Down division one match between Ballyholland and Saval on Thursday night. | |
His successor as mayor of Newry, Sinn Féin's Colman Burns, said news of the death, and its circumstances, had shocked the local community. | His successor as mayor of Newry, Sinn Féin's Colman Burns, said news of the death, and its circumstances, had shocked the local community. |
"On a personal basis I am deeply saddened. I sat beside Michael since I entered the council in 2000 and, despite being in different political parties, always saw him as a friend," he said. | "On a personal basis I am deeply saddened. I sat beside Michael since I entered the council in 2000 and, despite being in different political parties, always saw him as a friend," he said. |
"He was a dedicated and hard working councillor. This is a sad day." | "He was a dedicated and hard working councillor. This is a sad day." |
The chairman of Ballyholland GAA club, Sean McAteer, said Saval's physio and the Ballyholland nurse tried to help Mr Cole. | The chairman of Ballyholland GAA club, Sean McAteer, said Saval's physio and the Ballyholland nurse tried to help Mr Cole. |
"An ambulance was called right away, the ambulance people were giving the people on the the pitch direction on the phone of what was best to do until they arrived. | "An ambulance was called right away, the ambulance people were giving the people on the the pitch direction on the phone of what was best to do until they arrived. |
"They arrived and worked for a long time, but it became obvious that there was very little they could do," he said. | "They arrived and worked for a long time, but it became obvious that there was very little they could do," he said. |
'Public servant' | |
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Mr Cole was a man who showed "instinctive care, natural charm and utter decency". | |
"As a politician he showed purpose rather than pose. He was a man of modesty and honesty. His untimely death robs us all of a dedicated and decent public servant," he said. | |
Newry and Armagh assembly member Danny Kennedy said he felt a "sense of shock and sadness" when he heard about Mr Cole's death. | Newry and Armagh assembly member Danny Kennedy said he felt a "sense of shock and sadness" when he heard about Mr Cole's death. |
He said he had been a friend and "worthy political opponent" who had been "a very effective and popular first citizen". | He said he had been a friend and "worthy political opponent" who had been "a very effective and popular first citizen". |
GAA president Nickey Brennan extended the association's "deepest sympathies" to Mr Cole's family and friends. | |
He added that Mr Cole had been "a great GAA man who was very committed to refereeing". | |
Mr Cole is believed to have collapsed about half-an-hour into the game. | Mr Cole is believed to have collapsed about half-an-hour into the game. |