Heartbreak for Carrickmore family of hit-and-run victim
Thursday, 30 October 2008
The late 26-year-old Mr Jonathan Heagney from Aughnagar, Galbally. dd4449
by Julie Moore.
The Carrickmore family of hit-and-run victim, Johnathan Heagney, are said to be 'struggling' to come to terms with their loss this week, as arrangements were being made to lay the 26-year-old newly-wed to rest.
Mr Heagney married his long-term girlfriend, Elaine Duggan, just four months ago and the couple had recently moved to Galbally.
Gardai confirmed that a 21-year-old man had been arrested and later remanded on bail in connection with Saturday's incident, in which Mr Heagney, a pedestrian, had been struck by a car between Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, and Kingscourt, County Cavan.
Mr Heagney is survived by his wife, Elaine, mother, Pauline, father, Kieran, and sister, Janine.
Known as 'Johnnie' by his friends, Mr Heagney had been attending the wedding of his wife's cousin when he went missing.
Married at the nearby St John's Church, in Galbally, the couple had recently moved into their new home, close to Elaine's parents at Aughnagar.
Family and friends have been paying their respects to the newly-wed, including Michael Fox, a neighbour of the Heagney family in Mullaslin, Carrickmore, who had been bestman at Mr Heagney's wedding in July.
Both he and Sean Daly, friends who had known Mr Heagney since their years together in Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore, said the family were finding it hard to comprehend their loss.
Struggle
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution on Tuesday, Sean said: "Elaine's sister, Claire, came home from Australia to be with her, and Janine, Johnnie's sister, is home from America too.
“The family are struggling because his body won't be home until tomorrow at the earliest. They have no closure at all yet, all they want is for him to be home with them and for him to be buried.
“They [Johnathan and Elaine] had been picking out things for the house and I think they were to be delivered this week, so it's hard - it's just been devastating."
Describing his friend as a 'quiet man', Sean added that Mr Heagney was a devoted husband to Elaine: "Everything he did was for Elaine, everything had to be perfect for her. When they were making plans for the new house, he wanted everything to be just right for her. He worshipped her. Elaine doesn't believe it at the minute.
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"He would have been very good to his mum as well. He gave her money because she was going to see Janine in America a few weeks ago and he was annoyed that she had bought him a shirt with the money. He didn't even get to wear it," he said.
“He was a dead ringer for his dad, Kieran. Johnnie was actually wearing his dad's shirt at the wedding, that's how close they were. It made Kieran proud that his son would ask to wear one of his shirts."
Adding that this Friday would have marked Mr Heagney's 27th birthday, his school-mate, Michael, described him as "one of the best friends you could have ever had, a very kind fella. He had friends from all walks of life. His mum had a present already wrapped for him."
A plasterer by trade, Mr Heagney followed in his father's footsteps, cultivating an innate love for pony and cart racing, a passion for which he was well-known.
Shock
Derek Montgomery, chairman of the Tullylagan Driving Club, of which Mr Heagney was a member, expressed his condolences this week, describing his shock when he first heard the sad news.
“It's a sad happening, when I got the call to tell me what had happened I just couldn't believe it. I got the shock of my life when I found out, he was the last person I would have imagined.
“He was very much involved in our club - very much involved in the driving in the club. We had our annual dinner in Galbally just a few weeks ago and him and I were chatting. He was a good, honest, straight lad, and very much liked - very obliging in every way. He was also a very quiet person, not very excitable, but I had the greatest respect for him in every way, I have known him for a long time."
Adding that Mr Heagney had participated in racing competitions across Ireland, Mr Montgomery said that his family were very proud of his achievements, with winners' titles from the Moy Easter Sunday races in 2003 and 2004, to name but a few of his accolades.
“His brother-in-law, Sean Duggan, is the secretary of our club, so this was an interest that they had in common," he said.
“That lad was harmless to everybody, no matter who he met. We have good lads in this club, they are all in it for the sport and a bit of craic. We would all meet and have a drive for five or ten miles, and then enjoy talking to one another."
Funeral
It is believed that the funeral mass for Mr Heagney will take place in Galbally, where he and Elaine were married, before his body is laid to rest in Carrickmore.
Rev Gerard McAleer, Donaghmore parish priest, paid special tribute to Mr Heagney's wife, Elaine, describing her as a 'remarkable person'.
“She has been very well composed. The family are very calm and composed people anyway, but at a time like this, sometimes people can lose control of their emotions but she is very composed," Fr McAleer said.
Also adding her condolences, Sinn Fein mid-Tyrone councillor, Anne-Marie Fitzgerald, said she had been speaking to the Heagney family, who were overwhelmed by the messages of sympathy that had been extended to them in the past week.
“They are still in a state of shock, completely stunned, and they are trying to grasp what has happened. It is just awful, my thoughts are with them at this time, and my condolences go to his wife and the family."
Gardai have said Mr Heagney was hit by a car some time between 2am and 2pm on Saturday and have appealed for anyone with information to contact them.
