Sunday funeral for father and daughter

A service will be held in Magherafelt Baptist Church at Ballyronan Road for Colin and Hannah Doherty followed by interment at Polepatrick Cemetery on Castledawson Road.

They died after the car they were travelling in was in collision with a cattle lorry at Moneymore Road.

Magherafelt Area Commander, Chief Inspector Sam Donaldson extended his sympathies to the family.

He said: “This is the third tragic road collision in Magherafelt in the past three weeks, which have resulted in the very sad loss of four people. My sincere sympathy goes out to those families who have lost their loved ones.

“The death of each one is tragic and will have brought enormous suffering to their families and friends.”

“With the current cold weather making roads treacherous, I am urging all motorists to take extra care on the roads. Please slow down, maintain a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles on the roads and allow more time for your journey.

“I have increased police patrols on the roads in recent weeks and this will continue in order to keep motorists and our roads safer.”

Chairman of Magherafelt District Council, Paul McLean said: “Our hearts and prayers are with all the families that have been affected by this tragic loss. I would concur with the Area Commander, Chief Inspector Sam Donaldson and urge everyone in our District to exercise extreme care and diligence as they travel on the roads this winter.”

Sinn Féin MP for Mid Ulster, Martin McGuinness has expressed his sympathy to the Doherty family who at the loss of two family members who were killed tragically in a car accident last night close to Magherafelt.

Mr McGuinesss said: “I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the Doherty family following the loss of two family members who were tragically killed in a road traffic accident late last night.

“I’m sure they will be in the thoughts of many people. To lose two members of a family through a road traffic accident is always a tragic, sad occasion, it is especially more acutely felt at this time of year in the weeks before Christmas.

“This now brings the number of people killed in the area to four over the past number of weeks. We need to examine why this is the case and ensure that care is taken to ensure that we see no more dreadful occasions such as this.”

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