‘Amazing’ dad-of-five killed in road tragedy

‘Amazing’ dad-of-five killed in road tragedy

12 October 2016

A DOWNPATRICK man who was killed in an accident while cycling to work last week has been remembered by his son as “the loveliest person you could meet”.

Fifty year-old Stephen Lynch died on Thursday morning as he cycled to work in Bangor.

The father-of-five died after being involved in a collision with a car on the Newtownards to Bangor Road near the Somme Heritage Centre shortly before 5.50am.

Following his funeral mass in Downpatrick on Monday, his son Steffan said the family had been buoyed by the support of mourners who gathered at St Patrick’s Church to remember a man who “always had a smile on his face.”

“It was very nice to see everybody who had come to be there for my dad,” he said.

“It was very supportive. He was the loveliest person you could meet, always had a smile on his face and would do anything for his kids.

“He always had a joke and was just amazing to be around.”

Steffan, who plays football for Killyleagh YC, said he was encouraged into taking up the sport by his football-loving dad.

“He loved football, he got all of us into it — we had no choice,” he said. “It was always better having him on the sidelines as he would be the only person you could hear — he was the loudest one and full of support.”

Steffan said his father had worked in a sandwich bar in Bangor for nine years and enjoyed cycling to work, despite the fact that the journey took one and half hours.

He said he enjoyed when his father called into his house on his way home but admitted the potential dangers of his commute had concerned the family.

“There have been three deaths of cyclists on the roads this year and that is three too many,” he said.

“My dad loved cycling and was so dedicated to his job, but it played on our minds that it was dangerous. There should be cycling lanes to help prevent accidents like this.”