A fundraiser launched to support the family of a lorry driver who died in a road accident outside Newry has raised over £13,000.
Mark Murphy (36), from Downpatrick and a father of three, died following a collision with a bus on the Rathfriland Road last Thursday. He was laid to rest following his funeral at St Patrick’s Church, Legamaddy earlier today (Monday).
Tiffany Magee, a cousin of Mark’s wife Danielle, launched the initiative on GoFundMe to help raise as much money as possible for funeral expenses, with an initial target set at £6,500.
Despite this, hundreds donated over the weekend, with the current amount raised, as of Monday morning, an amazing £13,118.
Tiffany has described Mark as a “hard working family man who would do anything for anyone but he was also a big ejit and a kid at heart”.
She added: “He will be forever missed by all who knew him but especially his partner Danielle and kids Ethan, Adam, Myla, his dad and Frances, his three sisters and brother, nieces, nephews and the entire family circle. Rest in peace Mark.”
Alongside the many donations, messages of support and condolences also poured in, with one saying, “Thinking of Danielle and her three children and all Mark’s family, friends and work mates.”
Another said, “Will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark’s partner & children at this sad time. May he rest in peace.”
Also paying tribute following news of Mark’s passing was friend Donal Smith, who posted on the Four Roads Golfing Society Facebook group.
He said: “It’s not often that I’m lost for words but I’ve been just that since Thursday morning when I learned of the sudden and tragic passing of our dear friend and Past Captain, Mark Murphy.
“We haven’t really been functioning much as a society in recent years but thankfully we did have ‘Big Mark’ as a member and to say he left his own ‘mark’ on the history of the society would be an understatement.
“A pleasure to be with on and off the course, Mark was a more than capable player who recorded many a society win and he was victorious in at least two of our much missed weekend away outings.
“I’m pretty sure he added at least one Captain’s Day title to his list of wins and while my own memory isn’t great about all Mark’s many achievements, our own memories of him will be memories that we’ll cherish forever.”
Added Donal: “Always great craic and always up for a laugh, simply put, Mark was just an all round good lad. Given how low I’ve been feeling since Thursday morning, I cannot even begin to imagine what Mark’s nearest and dearest are going through right now but we send them our thoughts and prayers and trust they will find the strength to get through the painful days that lie ahead.
“Thanks for all the great times Mark, some of them were truly great and will never, ever be forgotten. Sleep easy big man.”
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