A young Co Tyrone man who died after entering a lake late on Saturday has been remembered as “much loved and caring”.
Fiachra Ó Faoláin (21) died after getting into difficulties in Carrick Lough near Aughnacloy shortly after 11pm on Saturday. He was a nephew of Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Colm Gildernew and former Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew.
A minute silence for the young man was held before throw-in at the Tyrone-Clare match in Omagh on Sunday.
Emergency services, including police, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Community Search and Rescue volunteers, attended the scene after the alarm was raised.
The body was recovered from the lake on Carricklongfield Road.
Mr Gildernew, in a statement on behalf of the Ó Faoláin family, said: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of our nephew Fiachra Ó Faoláin after a tragic accident in Carrick Lough on Saturday evening.
“Our immediate thoughts are with Fiachra’s mummy, our sister Fiona, daddy Shane and his siblings Dearbhla, Roisín, Méabh, Dáithí and Dualtách and the wider Ó Faoláin and Gildernew families at this immensely difficult time.
“Fiachra was a much loved, loving and caring young man with a bright future ahead of him and he will be remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him.
“On behalf of Fiachra’s family, and our wider family circle, I want to extend our sincerest thanks and gratitude to the emergency services for all of their efforts and support.
“As the family begins to process this devastating and unimaginable loss, I would urge the media to respect their request for privacy at this time.”
In a tribute posted to social media, Michelle Gildernew wrote: “We lost our funny, rebellious, kind and generous nephew today. You were one in a million Fiachra O Faoláin.
“May you rest in eternal peace darling, we will always miss you. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Fiachra was a former member of Dungannon’s Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club, and a spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday the club was “devastated to hear today of the passing of our former underage player”.
Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club is devastated to hear today of the passing of our former underage player Fiachra Ó...
Posted by Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club on Sunday 2 June 2024
They added of Fiachra’s family: “We are with you all at this difficult time and share in your grief.”
The family said wake and funeral arrangements will follow.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police will make enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death and a post-mortem will take place in due course, however at present the death is not believed to be suspicious.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.”