Former Armagh councillor and Mayor, Freda Donnelly was very much in councillors’ thoughts at Monday night’s ABC monthly meeting, following the tragic passing of her daughter, Helen Buchan.
Prominent in councillors’ thoughts was also Freda Donnelly’s husband Noel, who once served as a councillor for Crossmore DEA on the legacy Armagh City & District Council.
Lord Mayor, Cllr Sarah Duffy stated at the start of the meeting: “We would like to express our deepest condolences to former Armagh DUP councillor and Mayor, Freda Donnelly, on the recent death of her daughter Helen in Scotland.
“I would now like to ask Alderman Mark Baxter to lead us in our tributes tonight.”
Ald Baxter commented: “It’s a very sad day for Freda and for the family who very tragically lost a daughter very suddenly in the last week.
“So it was really just to to put on record as a former colleague and a friend here on our benches, just to pass on our condolences to Freda and the family.
“They can to be assured of our prayers at this very difficult time. It’s always maybe more difficult, it seems more poignant when it’s coming up to Christmas too.
“So we really just wanted to put that on record tonight, just to let her know that we’re thinking of her and we’re thinking of the family.”
Alderman Gordon Kennedy echoed Ald Baxter’s remarks: “I’d like to concur with those sentiments. Freda was a council colleague in the old Armagh Council.
“I’ve known the Donnelly family for quite a few years, so I’d like to pass on the sympathy of our grouping to Freda and the wider family circle.”
Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon said he had fond memories of serving as an Armagh councillor alongside Freda and Noel: “Like others, I want to be associated with the condolences to the Donnelly family.
“Freda was a long-serving councillor in Armagh and Mayor.
“Noel and I were first elected together in the old Crossmore ward in 2005, and I have to say they were probably two of the most decent people I ever met in local politics. I know that same trait was [found in] the rest of the family.
“I didn’t know Helen personally but would know some of the others, and I have to say I was absolutely devastated whenever I heard the news, so I want to add my thoughts and prayers.
“As Ald Baxter says, it’s difficult for parents to lose anyone, any son or daughter, but to lose them on the mouth of Christmas it is absolutely tragic.
“So I want to assure Noel and Freda of our thoughts and prayers at this time.”
Councillor Peter Lavery also wished to acknowledge the sad news: “On behalf of my own party group I just want to associate ourselves with those remarks and pass on our condolences to Freda, Noel, and their wider family at this difficult time and in the year ahead.”
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