Head teacher killed in storm was 'giant in his prime'

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Image source, St Mary's PS

Image caption,

Francis Lagan died as he was travelling through Antrim on Friday

Tributes have been paid to a school principal who was killed when a tree fell on his car during Storm Arwen.

Francis Lagan, the head of St Mary's Primary School in Maghera, was described as a "giant in his prime".

He was travelling along the Dublin Road in Antrim town with his wife and two of their children when the accident happened on Friday afternoon.

Mr Lagan's death was confirmed by St Mary's Primary School vice-principal Martina Bradley later that day.

Image caption,

Francis Lagan (right) had attended the opening of a new sports pitch at his school this month

"It is with great pain and sadness this evening that I have to inform you of the untimely death of our much loved principal Mr Lagan," she said in a statement on the school's website.

"May his gentle soul rest in peace."

St Patrick's College in Maghera, where Mr Lagan had been a pupil in the 1990s, also paid tribute to him on social media.

"Education in south Derry has lost a giant in his prime," the school said.

The entire College family is shocked to hear of the sad passing of Francis Lagan, brother of our Head of Mathematics Mrs...

Posted by St Patrick's College, Maghera on Friday, November 26, 2021

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Mr Lagan's Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club Watty Graham's Glen described him as a "great club man, coach... a fantastic son, brother, husband and daddy".

Club chairman Barry Slowey told BBC News NI he was "a gregarious character, a wonderful person, he filled the room".

"He brought a vitality to what he did," he added.

"A very determined person who was never going to let anything stand in his way.

"He recently developed his 4G pitch, a playing surface that has now become a massive asset to the community, a wonderful asset to the school."

A great club man, coach, principal, colleague, mentor, friend but more importantly a fantastic son, brother, husband and...

Posted by C.L.G Watty Graham, An Gleann on Friday, November 26, 2021

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Stormont Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said Mr Lagan was a "dedicated and passionate principal".

"I was privileged to visit his wonderful school, St Mary's Primary School in Glenview," said the Democratic Unionist Party politician.

Declan Kearney, a junior minister and Sinn Féin politician, said the head teacher had "made an immense contribution to the community which he served".

SDLP politician Patsy McGlone, who represents the constituency in which the school is situated, said Mr Lagan's death would have a "wide ripple effect right around the town of Maghera".

Two other people have died after Storm Arwen brought high winds, rain and snow to parts of the UK.

In Cumbria a man died after he was hit by a falling tree and in Aberdeenshire a man died when a tree hit his pick-up truck.

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