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| Storm Arwen: Tributes after Francis Lagan killed by falling tree | Storm Arwen: Tributes after Francis Lagan killed by falling tree |
| (2 days later) | |
| Francis Lagan died as he was travelling through Antrim on Friday | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Mr Lagan's death was confirmed by St Mary's Primary School vice-principal Martina Bradley later that day. |
| Francis Lagan (right) had attended the opening of a new sports pitch at his school this month | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | "Education in south Derry has lost a giant in his prime," the school said. |
| 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". | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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." | "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." |
| Stormont Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said Mr Lagan was a "dedicated and passionate principal". | 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. | "I was privileged to visit his wonderful school, St Mary's Primary School in Glenview," said the Democratic Unionist Party politician. |
| TrafficWatchNI - details of road closures | TrafficWatchNI - details of road closures |
| Latest Northern Ireland weather forecast | Latest Northern Ireland weather forecast |
| Declan Kearney, a junior minister and Sinn Féin politician, said the head teacher had "made an immense contribution to the community which he served". | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |